Mister Marti Gras takes another crack at Hawthorne Gold Cup

Stickney, IL (SportsNetwork.com) – Mister Marti Gras goes for another shot at the $250,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup Saturday after finishing second in last year’s renewal.

Trained by Chris Block, Mister Marti Gras will take on 10 rivals in the 1 1/4- mile stakes at Hawthorne Race Course just outside Chicago. The 7-year-old chestnut gelding will be ridden by Tim Thornton and break from post 10.

Last year, 14-1 longshot Mister Marti Gras came from off the pace and was five-wide at the quarter-pole before dropping a length decision to Last Gunfighter. The gelding comes into this year’s Gold Cup with just one win from seven starts for $80,955.

Mister Marti Gras’ best effort in 2014 came in the Hanshin Cup at Arlington Park when he finished second as a 16-1 longshot. The gelding lost by a half- length to Nikki’s Sandcastle after racing well off the pace and going six-wide on the final turn.

Overall, Mister Marti Gras has earned $1,082,919 with 10 wins, 11 seconds and five thirds in 42 lifetime starts.

Here is the Gold Cup field in post position order: Abraham, Joe Rocco Jr.; Hattaash, Sheldon Russell; Red Rifle, Florent Geroux; Cary Street, Miguel Mena; Ever Rider, Frankie Pennington; Effinex, Angel Arroyo; Street Spice, Edgar Perez; Call Me George, Emmanuel Esquivel; Fordubai, Israel Ocampo; Mister Marti Gras, Tim Thornton and Midnight Aria, Julio Felix.

The Hawthorne Gold Cup has an approximate post time of 6:20 p.m. ET.

Categorized in: Horses