Top American jockey John Velazquez Jnr showcased his skill with a patient, well-timed ride aboard Parchment Party to claim the golden ticket race at Saratoga, earning entry into the Melbourne Cup this November.
The Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup, originally set for 3200 metres on turf to mirror the Melbourne Cup distance, was switched to the dirt track and shortened to 2800 metres due to heavy rainfall leading up to the event.
Despite the change, the golden ticket status of the race remained intact. Late scratchings, including favourite Limited Liability, reduced the field to eight, where Velazquez and Parchment Party—sent out at $16—took full advantage of the revised conditions.
The four-year-old entire, trained by Bill Mott, tracked the pace before pouncing on leader Yo Daddy ($6) at the top of the straight, storming clear for a dominant six-length win. Padiddle ($13) finished third, another six lengths behind.
However, despite securing the Melbourne Cup berth, Mott confirmed Parchment Party is unlikely to make the trip to Flemington as the son of Constitution doesn’t perform well on turf.
It marked Velazquez Jnr’s third Belmont Gold Cup win in recent years, having previously taken the race with The Grey Wizard (2024) and Baron Samedi (2021). The Saratoga victory was also his third winner on the card that day.
For punters tracking Melbourne Cup hopefuls and international form, be sure to explore the latest futures odds and markets at the best Australian betting sites for Group 1 racing this spring.