The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is back at Aqueduct Racetrack for a second year on Saturday as “Belmont at the Big A” continues, and last year’s winner War Like Goddess is looking for a repeat of last year’s success.
Going off favourite last year, William Mott’s runner won by just under three lengths, but is only the 5.00 second favourite with bet365 to go back-to-back.
Usually ridden by Joel Rosario, she was partnered by Jose Lezcano a year ago, and this year another new jockey awaits as the six-year-old will be ridden by Junior Alvarado for the first time.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 28th, 4:45 P.M. (BST)
Since last October, she has finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, took a Grade 3 win in April but did not enjoy the 1 mile 2 furlong New York Stakes, coming sixth of seven. Second in a 1m4f Grade 2 at Saratoga last time out suggests she is back to her best at her preferred distance.
The favourite, however, is the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Rebel’s Romance, at 2.20.
Godolphin’s five-year-old, trained by Charlie Appleby, hit a five-race winning streak at Keeneland that day but that run came to an abrupt end at Meydan in the Dubai Sheema Classic when seventh under Saturday’s jockey, William Buick.
Last time out, in the Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga, he unseated Ryan Mullen when in contention, two furlongs from home.
Christophe Clement trains 8.50 chance Soldier Rising, ridden by Jose L Ortiz. Yet to win a graded race of any kind, he has come second in each of his last three Grade 1s, so is the big victory just around the corner?
The latest of those near misses was the Sword Dancer Stakes a month ago, and earlier this season he was runner-up in both the Man o’ War and Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park.
Another runner in search of a win is Stone Age (9.00), who last triumphed in May last year at Leopardstown. Nine races later, eight at Grade 1 level, Chad C. Brown’s four-year-old’s best result is second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
He has finished fifth five times in that run, including last time out in the Sword Dancer.
At 10.00 are Adhamo – winner of the G1 United Nations Stakes in May – and Pioneering Spirit, who was third in the Sword Dancer and ridden by Lezcano. Grand Sonata (11.00) is entering an open-age G1 for the first time.
Ironically, the highest prices are for Astronaut (26.00) and So High (67.00).
