Expert Pick of the Week: 2023 Jockey Club Gold Cup

The Todd Pletcher-trained Bright Future has yet to add any black-type to his resume as he was well beaten in his lone stakes try to date, but the talented son of Curlin was a fine allowance winner on the oval in his latest endeavor, and I expect him to duplicate that performance in his second try at the Spa. He is the Expert Pick of the Week. 

Bright Future was unveiled as a sophomore in March of 2022 and impressed with a superb debut victory while running one mile at Gulfstream Park. After finishing third in his three-year-old finale, the colt commenced this campaign with a stylish score in Florida, which preceded a third-place result at Churchill Downs while competing in a deep allowance tilt. The four-year-old stopped early in the Brooklyn S. (G2) two back, but he more than made up for it with a powerful win at Saratoga last time out. 

The Kentucky-bred chestnut has good tactical speed in a field lacking a ton of pace, and he will receive a fine trip while tracking the tempo throughout while always in the clear. Red-hot jockey Javier Castellano retains the mount atop the leading selection. 

Kenny McPeek’s Rattle N Roll had reeled off a trio of Grade 3 wins in succession prior to finishing a fine second in the Stephen Foster S. (G1) at Ellis Park on July 1. By Connect, the chestnut was unplaced in his lone previous run on the surface, but he is a much better horse at the moment and he is also in superb form, as well. Kentucky-bred colt is a consistently very good late runner who always packs a punch in the lane, and his overall level of class makes him a surefire contender who seeks his initial Grade 1 trophy. Brian Hernandez Jr. will guide the likely one to beat.

Godolphin homebred Proxy showed a new dimension when leading at every call in the Monmouth Cup (G3) most recently for conditioner Mike Stidham. The well-bred son of Tapit, who annexed the 2022 Clark S. (G1) at Churchill Downs, will appreciate the distance beneath Joel Rosario. He will save ground to the top of the lane before putting in his bid at the head of the stretch.

An exacta with #8 Bright Future on top of #4 Rattle N Roll and #1 Proxy in the Jockey Club Gold Cup is the Beast Bet of the Week.