2014 Hawthorne Gold Cup

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup comes our way from Hawthorne in Cicero, Illinois this Saturday, November 29. Horses three years old and upward will be featured as they go 1 1/4 miles on Hawthorne's main track searching for the winner's share of the $250,000.

An even field of 11 has been confirmed for the Hawthorne Gold Cup - race 8 on Hawthorne's Saturday schedule. Post time is 5:20 PM. Here is a brief look into the past performances of all 11 entries for this Grade 2 stakes.

2014 Hawthorne Gold Cup Race Favorite Entries

Cary Street - has nine starts this year with three wins, two seconds and three third place finishes. He enters having won two of his last three starts - both graded stakes. Last time out was one of those wins - the Grade 2 Las Vegas Marathon at Santa Anita October 31 and the other coming three back in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx - his only graded stakes starts so far. He also had a third in the minor Temperance Hill Stakes behind Ever Rider sandwiched in there. Cary Street is the most accomplished of the entries, is the hottest of the Gold Cup competitors and will have Miguel Mena in the reins from post 4 at 4-1 odds.

Ever Rider - Argentinean bred entry has looked very good as of late - two wins in his last three starts. Last time out was a win in the minor Temperance Hill Invitational at Belmont Park October 4 after a good second behind Cary Street in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup and an Allowance Optional Claiming score in August. Before that was a pair of fourths - in the Grade 2 Suburban Handicap in July and in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational June 7. His best result to date was a win at home in the group 2 General Belgrano June 21. He has placed in six of nine North American starts and looks for his first graded stakes score on American soil. Frankie Pendleton has the mount on the 7-2 shot from post 5.

Hawthorne Gold Cup 2014 | Remaining Contenders

Red Rifle - speedy Todd Pletcher trained gelding has four wins and four seconds in 12 career starts and enters off an OK second in the Grade 3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland October 16 after a win in the minor Yankee Affair Stakes at Belmont Park September 6 and seconds in consecutive Allowance Optional Claiming races - the last being August 7. He did win the minor Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston in March but as well. Red Rifle has been steadily improving with a win and three seconds in his last four starts overall and will have Florent Geroux in the irons from post 3 at 5-1 on the morning line.

Abraham - legendary trainer Bill Mott sends out Abraham who has three wins and a third place in five starts this year - also a fourth behind Departing on this track in the 2013 Illinois Derby. He is coming off a win in the minor Michael G. Schaefer Memorial Stakes at Indiana Grand Race Course October 4 after a fifth in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup at Parx in September and a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming scores. He has placed in just one of five graded stakes starts and looks to change that with Joe Rocco in the saddle from the rail at 6-1 odds.

Mister Marti Gras - last year's runner-up in this race - Chris Block trained gelding has 42 career starts with 10 wins, 11 seconds and five third place finishes - a win, a second and a third place finish in seven starts this year. He was at his best in 2011 when he won a pair of Grade 3 races and has been OK Since. Last time out was a fifth in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes October 25 after a close third in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap August 30, a fifth in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, an Allowance Optional Claiming score in June and a good second in the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup in May. He has placed in 11 of his last 15 starts overall and will have Timothy Thornton guiding him from post 10 Saturday.

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Call Me George - has 20 career starts for trainer Grant Forster with five wins, three seconds and four third place finishes. He enters off a sixth in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes October 25 after an OK third behind Cigar Street in the minor Homecoming Classic Stakes September 27 and a fourth in his only other graded stakes start - the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup Stakes at Parx September 1. Call Me George has 10 starts this year with two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes and looks to snap out of a bit of a slump. Emmanuel Esquival will be in charge from gate 8 at 6-1 on the morning line.

Fordubai - finished sixth in this race last year but has just one win and three thirds in eight starts since. He enters off a third in the minor Michael G. Shaefer Memorial Stakes October 4 after a fourth in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap August 30 and a third in the minor Prairie Meadows Handicap. He did win the minor Louisiana Handicap in January and he does have multiple wins on this track. Israel Ocampo will get the call on the 12-1 shot from post 9.

Midnight Aria - winner of the 2013 version of Canada's biggest race in wire-to-wire fashion at 16-1 odds - the Queen's Plate has just three starts since. After 13 months away he returned to action August 8 and posted a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming and followed that with an Allowance Optional Claiming score in gate-to-wire September 28. Last time out was an OK third in the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes October 9. Midnight Aria has 12 career starts with three wins, a second and six third place finishes and hopes to channel some of his Queen's Plate form as he steps into graded stakes company for the second time. Julio Felix rides at 15-1 on the morning line from the outside post.

Effinex - is coming off a win in the minor Empire Classic Handicap at Belmont Park October 18 for trainer James Jerkins after a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming September 28 and a second in the minor Albany Stakes in August. He has just one graded stakes start - an eighth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial in April and has three wins, a second and two third place finishes in 10 starts this year. Angel Arroyo has the call aboard at 15-1 from post 6.

Street Spice - finished third in this race last year and has posted just two seconds and a third place finish in eight starts this year. Last time out was a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming on this track October 10 after a second in a similar race at Indiana Grand in September. Prior to that he failed to place in four straight starts including his only graded stakes start this year - a seventh in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap in March. Street Spice looks for his first graded stakes score Saturday at 20-1 from post 7 with Edgar Perez guiding him.

Hattaash - local entry finished seventh in this race last year and has placed in just two of nine starts since. He finished a good second in the Grade 3 Washington Park Handicap at Arlington three back and went on to a fifth in the minor Michael G. Schaefer Memorial October 4 and a sixth in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Churchill Downs November 2. He has 50 career starts with 10 wins, six seconds and nine third place finishes and will have Sheldon Russell aboard the longest shot in the field (30-1) from post 2.

2014 Hawthorne Gold Cup Entries & Odds

Race 8 on Hawthorne's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:20 PM.