Jockey Club Gold Cup Picks — Betting Preview and Predictions (Aug 31)

A pulsating weekend of horse racing action in the U.S. will offer massive clues ahead of this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic. Some contenders will strut their stuff in the G1 Pacific Classic on Saturday, before two previous winners of the Classic collide in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sunday. Find the odds and picks for the race here.

Odds

Jockey Club Gold Cup Recent Winners

Jockey Club Gold Cup: Event Information

Race Preview

A red-hot renewal of the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup is set for Saratoga on Sunday, as the credentials of some leading Breeders’ Cup Classic contenders will be on the line. The field will collide over 1 ¼ miles, with a purse of $1 million up for grabs.

Sierra Leone holds the form advantage over a number of his reappearing rivals after landing a dominant success at Saratoga last time in the G1 Whitney Stakes. The Chad Brown runner’s stamina got him home in Grade One company last time, with White Abarrio finishing four lengths behind, and Highland Falls taking second.

The latter could be interesting this weekend after winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup 12 months ago. Brad Cox’s runner has won six from 12 lifetime starts, and has little to find on his very best form. However, the fact that he was outlasted by Sierra Leone last time does leave him with something to find.

Undeniably, the most interesting runner this weekend is Mindframe. The Todd Pletcher runner has been sensational throughout 2025, and has won three from three. His latest success could be a key form line after he got the better of Sierra Leone in the G1 Stephen Foster. Still improving, but this is his biggest test to date.

Jockey Club Gold Cup Picks

I’m a huge fan of Sierra Leone, and his Classic credentials could be enhanced on Sunday. The Brown horse’s stamina is a major asset in his favor this weekend, and he could reverse the form with Mindframe. Antiquarian could be an interesting angle in Trifectas, as the progressive four-year-old has improved with every run this season for trainer Todd Pletcher.