The 41st Sandy Lane Gold Cup at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados is about six weeks away and American owner KEN RAMSEY already has a short list of possible entrants for the 1 1/8 mile turf race. Ramsey, who has won the Gold Cup three times (with his late wife Sarah), came close to getting a fourth in 2023 when TALLAHATCHIEBRIDGE was a closing second to It’s a Gamble. Patrick Husbands rode Tallahatchiebridge in the 2023 Gold Cup.
Tallahatchiebridge, a five-year-old homebred by Will Take Charge, is one of several considerations for the Gold Cup for Ramsey, who may start two horses in the March 2 race. Tallahatchiebridge, trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr. won a claiming race at Saratoga in August by eight lengths but has not raced since September when he was 10th in a race at the same track. The horse was one of several who had workouts at Palm Meadows on Jan. 6.
Also on the list of possible Ramsey/Gold Cup starters is the five-year-old mare BRAVO KITTEN, a two-time winner by Kitten’s Joy who won a 1 3/8 mile grass race at Gulfstream Park in March 2023.
YES THIS TIME, by Not This Time, was claimed by Ramsey for $80,000 from a second-place finish at Del Mar with a 94 Beyer Speed Figure in July and was then third in the Tapit Stakes at Kentucky Downs and unplaced in two Grade 2 stakes in California last fall. The winner of the Grade 3 Kent Stakes in July 2021 won five straight races that year, but has not won in 17 races since then.
Also claimed for $80,000 by Ramsey was CASH EQUITY (Fr), a grey gelding by Toronado (Ire) who was second by a neck in a 1 1/8 mile turf race at Santa Anita with a 94 Beyer Figure on Nov. 2. Ramsey claimed Cash Equity that day and the gelding was third in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap in September and he is a six-time winner.
The eight-year-old RAMSEY SOLUTION has won six of 13 races but has not raced in more than a year. SPY NOVEL, a four-year-old bred by Gary Barber, was claimed for $25,000 on Jan. 1, 2023 when he won his maiden on the turf at Gulfstream. The Boisterous gelding won in February but was unplaced in two races in April after that. The gelding worked fast on Jan. 6 at Palm Meadows, sizzling four furlongs in 46.40 on the dirt. And SPIRIT MAKER, a $50,000 claim last summer at Del Mar, is also on the list of possible Gold Cup starters for Ramsey. The son of Empire Maker has won four of 22 races but has never run in a stakes race.
The first list of Gold Cup nominations, which will race for about $200,000 (Bar) added will be released soon after the first payment deadline on Jan. 26.
Other non-local horses who could contest the Gold Cup include Woodbine-based PAT’SSEWINGMACHINE (by the late Ken Ramsey stallion We Miss Artie and bred by Ramsey), STOLEN MONEY (also a Ramsey-bred by We Miss Artie), FORESTER HUMOR (Old Forester) and one of 2023’s top Canadian-bred three-year-olds, KAUKOKAIPUU (Mr. Speaker).
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