While it's true that he's no Yankee Bravo ... I think you fail to realize that the Jockey Club Gold Cup was just Quality Road's 3rd start in over 6 months time.
There was nothing wrong with QR's performance either - the track was wet and slow - Fabulous Strike was nailed late by Kodiak Kowboy in the Vosburgh and a race featuring the two best sprinters in the world went in a very slow raw time of 1:10.08
They start on something of a dog leg turn at Belmont at 10fs - and the pace was hardly as slow as you think given the condition of the track. Getting beat one length by a Belmont and Travers winner - and running a 110 Beyer is no great disgrace.
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