Skip Away, Gentlemen Work Out for Gold Cup

Skip Away, who will try for his seventh consecutive victory in the $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup on June 28, worked five furlongs in 59 3/5 Tuesday morning at Belmont Park, only a day after Gentlemen, the defending champion in the Gold Cup, went 1 1/8 miles in 1:51 2/5 at Hollywood Park for trainer Richard Mandella.

If both run, the Grade I race will be the second meeting of Skip Away and Gentlemen. In their only other encounter, Gentlemen beat Skip Away in the 1997 Pimlico Special.

Former jockey Angel Cordero Jr., now the agent for John Velasquez, was aboard for Skip Away’s drill on a sloppy track.

“It was an awesome work on that kind of track,” trainer Sonny Hine said. “The track was very deep and muddy. He went the first quarter in 22 1/5 or 22 2/5 [seconds] and then coasted in from there. [Cordero] spent the rest of his time trying to slow him up. He has sure maintained his sharpness.

“[Skip Away] was really full of himself. He thrives on the work and that’s why you see the quick works. He came out of the work great and wasn’t even blowing.”

The Gold Cup will mark Skip Away’s second trip to Hollywood Park. Last November, he easily won the $4-million Breeders’ Cup Classic. He is expected to arrive in California either two or three days before the 1 1/4-mile race.

Gentlemen, meanwhile, is prepping for his first start since finishing last as the prohibitive favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap more than three months ago.

“He’s doing great,” said Mandella. “He’ll have one more work before the race and then he should be ready.”

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Jockey Robby Albarado, 24, suffered a skull fracture in a spill Wednesday at Churchill Downs.

The third-leading rider at the current meeting at Louisville, Albarado was hurt when his mount, Presho, fell and a trailing horse, Apprehend, ridden by Willie Martinez, collided and fell over Albarado and Presho.

“There is no bleeding and the brain is intact,” Dr. Barbara Sowers said of Albarado’s injuries. “With any type of injury like this, the first 24 hours are the most important. It takes a very severe impact to sustain a fractured skull through a helmet.”

Horse Racing Notes

There is a pick-six carry-over at Hollywood Park today of more than $83,000. . . . Jockey Alex Solis will begin a five-day suspension June 24 after being disqualified from second on Sealy Place in last Sunday’s sixth race.