A "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), the Jockey Club Gold Cup has been won in recent years by Eclipse champions Bernardini (2006), Curlin (2007, 2008), and Summer Bird (2009). In addition, 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Blame placed second in the 2010 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Thus, the Jockey Club Gold Cup has earned its status as on of the country's premiere races.
A field of ten has been entered for the ten-furlong race, with Ron the Greek expected to be sent off as the favorite. The five-year-old son of Full Mandate has been having a spectacular season, with victories in the Santa Anita Handicap and Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) stamping him as one of the leading older males of the year. A victory in this race could make him the favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic, and bolster his chances of being named Horse of the Year.
His stiffest challenge is expected to come from Fort Larned, who defeated Ron the Greek in the Whitney Invitational (gr. I) a little less than two months ago. Trained by Ian Wilkes, the son of E Dubai possesses a great deal of tactical speed, which could prove to be quite an asset over the often speed-favoring Belmont Park main track.
Flat Out, winner of the 2011 Jockey Club Gold Cup and a stablemate to Ron the Greek, finished third in the Whitney and seems to be rounding back into form following a lengthy layoff. Likewise, 2011 Travers Stakes (gr. I) winner Stay Thirsty will be trying to find the winner's circle for the first time since last year's "Midsummer Derby", but needs to step up his game in order to do so, as his recent efforts have been somewhat disappointing.
Another colt looking to rebound is Ruler On Ice, who posted a shocking upset in the 2011 Belmont Stakes (gr. I). He has not won a race since then, but did rally to finish second in that year's Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) and third in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Haskell Invitational (gr. I). He enters the Gold Cup off of a runner-up effort in an allowance optional claiming race at Delaware Park.
Hymn Book is an intriguing contender, for he seems to be very fond of the Belmont Park main track and is a grade I winner, having won the Donn Handicap (gr. I) back in February. However, he hasn't won a race since, and most recently finished fourth in the Whitney.
Fast Falcon and Atigun finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) one month ago, and both should appreciate the distance of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Rounding out the field are San Pablo won the Philip H. Iselin Stakes (gr. III) last time out, and Game Ball, a former claimer that most recently finished eighth in the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (gr. I) on the turf at Saratoga.
Post Positions:
| PP | Horse | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
| 1 | Ron the Greek | 126 | Jose Lezcano | Bill Mott |
| 2 | Stay Thirsty | 126 | Ramon Dominguez | Todd Pletcher |
| 3 | Ruler On Ice | 126 | Alan Garcia | Kelly Breen |
| 4 | Hymn Book | 126 | John Velazquez | Claude McGaughey III |
| 5 | Fort Larned | 126 | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | Ian Wilkes |
| 6 | Atigun | 122 | Mike Smith | Kenneth McPeek |
| 7 | Fast Falcon | 122 | Corey Nakatani | Nick Zito |
| 8 | San Pablo | 126 | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher |
| 9 | Flat Out | 126 | Joel Rosario | Bill Mott |
| 10 | Game Ball | 126 | Jose Espinoza | Naipaul Chatterpaul |
-Keelerman
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