Trainer and co-owner David Jacobson reported Tuesday morning that Group 2 Godolphin Mile winner Banishing will bypass Friday's Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Co-owned with Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri and Lawrence Roman, the 6-year-old Ghostzapper chestnut will re-route to one of two races on September 26 at Churchill Downs -- the one-mile Grade 3, $400,000 [KTDF $100,000] Ack Ack or the nine-furlong Grade 2, $500,000 [$100,000 KTDF] Lukas Classic.
"We'll go to either the Lukas Classic or the Ack Ack," Jacobson said. "We analyzed the opportunities, and we feel it's better for the horse to run in Kentucky—Forever Young is a very nice horse."
Banishing has banked in excess of $3.2 million via a 32-11-7-3 record.
In addition, trainer Ethan West advised Tuesday that Terry Stephens' grade 3 winner Chunk of Gold will also bypass the Jockey Club Gold Cup in favor of the Lukas Classic.
"Logistical issues weren't working out in our favor to get up there, so we just decided to go with our original plan," West said.
Chunk of Gold, who was purchased for just $2,500 at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, is nearing millionaire status with $951,511 in the bank. He is a full brother to stakes winner Band of Gold and is out of the Cairo Prince mare Play for Gold, a half-sister to dual graded stakes winner My Boy Jack.
