Albert The Great booked his ticket for a clash with Giant`s Causeway in next month`s Breeders` Cup Classic with an all-the-way win in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Saturday.
The Nick Zito-trained three-year-old came home six lengths clear of Gander in the US1 million Grade One contest.
Vision And Verse finished third a further three lengths away with the odds-on favourite Lemon Drop Kid a disappointing fifth after receiving a bump at the start.
Albert the Great completed the one and a quarter miles under Jorge Chavez in 1:59.24 and earned owner Tracy Farmer US600,000 for the win.
'What a day, an amazing day,' Zito told the Bloodhorse Magazine. 'It`s very special. I`d never won a Jockey Club Gold Cup before.'
