Dylan disappoints in Belmont

Bernardini stretched his winning run to six as Dylan Thomas trailed home a disappointing last of four in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.

Aidan O'Brien was keen to see how his Irish Derby and Champion Stakes hero fared on the dirt surface ahead of a planned crack at the Breeders' Cup Classic.

However, the colt was slowly away under John Velazquez in the mile-and-a-quarter event and the jockey was already at work only a furlong into the race.

Velazquez eased down when it became apparent that Dylan Thomas had lost any chance of taking a hand in the contest, eventually coming home a distance behind the facile winner.

Bernardini was always travelling well for Javier Castellano though, settling on the heels of pace-setting Wanderin Boy before making his move turning for home.

Castellano even allowed himself a glance over his shoulder as he hit the front on the turn and Bernardini barely came out of second gear to finish six and three-quarter lengths clear of Wanderin Boy.

"I had so much horse today," Castellano said. "I never asked him, and  it looked pretty easy. I liked the way he did it today. He settled down  perfectly behind the speed horse.

"I wanted him to settle down today. I didn't want him on the lead because I want him to be focused for his next race, the Breeders' Cup.

"In the Breeders' Cup someone may want to go for the lead. There is more  pressure and more pace in that kind of a race.

"He's a special horse and that kind of a horse is hard to find. He's my spoiled baby."

Tom Albertrani's charge was an easy winner of the Preakness Stakes in May and has also notched wide-margin successes in both the Grade Two Jim Dandy Stakes and the Grade One Travers Stakes.

The colt is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable and is already the 7-4 favourite with VC Bet for the Classic at Churchill Downs on November 4.

Albertrani added: "That was exactly what I was hoping for. I was hoping to see him run as easy as he did in the Jim Dandy. I've got a fresh horse for the Breeders' Cup now.

"He does things so easily, I don't know if anyone can give him the kind  of race where he has to fight

"Look at the hold Javier had on him. It looked like Javier could take the lead at any time. It worked out very, very well."

O'Brien was not at the track to witness Dylan Thomas' eclipse, but his representative Patrick

Keating said: "He galloped over the dirt on Friday morning. He handled the dirt well and we were very happy with him. Now, he just didn't handle it at all."

Velazquez added: "He just didn't have the wheels."

Fleet Indian advertised her Breeders' Cup Distaff claims and initiated a big-race treble for trainer Todd Pletcher in the Grade One Beldame Stakes

Pletcher's mare is well-fancied for the November 4 prize and she gave her all to hold the fast-finishing Balletto by a head in the nine-furlong contest.

Pletcher secured a Grade One double as Honey Ryder produced a late kick under Velazquez to take the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes by a nose from Film Maker.

Jade Queen tried to make all but she was swamped in the final furlong as Honey Ryder and Film Maker swept through to take the first two places in a driving finish.

The winner is as low as 12-1 with Stan James for the Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf.

English Channel underlined his position as one of the best Turf horses in America with a five-length win in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes.

Velazquez's mount was not hard-pushed to pull well clear of John Hammond's French raider Freedonia with compatriot Royal Highness, who is trained by Pascal Bary, back in third.

"We were in a good position today with horses that had been training  well," Pletcher said.

"Now, you have to hope you can keep them in good form and reproduce the same effort four weeks from now."

O'Brien's Frost Giant was settled near the pace early in the 12-furlong race but faded out of the frame in the straight.

Keating added: "He was running well but just got boxed in when he wanted to make his move, but he's okay."

Velazquez completed his own big-race treble as Henny Hughes, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Vosburgh Stakes, powering to a convincing success over War Front.