AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC INVITATIONAL S. (G1), 9TH-BEL, $500,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/2MT, 5:11 P.M. EDT, 10-2 |
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| 1 |
GRASSY, 4, c, by El Prado (Ire)High Savannah (GB), by Rousillon O-Adele B. Dilschneider, Claiborne Farm; B-Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider (Ky) |
| 2 |
NEVER ON SUNDAY (FR), 5, h, by Sunday Break (Jpn)Hexane (Fr), by Kendor O-Bernard Weill; B-Scea Des Prairies (Fr) |
| 3 |
SOLITAIRE, 5, G, by Victory GallopRing Star, by Great Gladiator O-William L. Clifton Jr.; B-Windways Farm Limited (On) |
| 4 |
TREAT GENTLY (GB), 5, m, by Cape Cross (Ire)Kid Gloves, by In the Wings (GB) O-Juddmonte Farms; B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd. (GB) |
| 5 |
AL KHALI, 4, c, by Medaglia D’OroMaya, by Capote O-Brous Stable Wachtel Stable; B-Emory A. Hamilton (Ky) |
| 6 |
BEARPATH, 4, c, by DynaformerSong ‘n Silk, by Unbridled’s Song O-Lothenbach Stables; B-Whisper Hill Farm (Ky) |
| 7 |
TELLING, 6, h, by A.P. IndyWell Chosen, by Deputy Minister O-Alex & Joann Lieblong; B-Darley (Ky) |
| 8 |
STRIKE A DEAL, 6, h, by Smart StrikeShag, by Dixieland Band O-Richard Santulli; B-Bee Zee LLC (Ky) |
| 9 |
PADDY O’PRADO, 3, c, by El Prado (Ire)Fun House, by Prized O-Donegal Racing; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ky) |
| 10 |
WINCHESTER, 5, h, by Theatrical (Ire)Rum Charger (Ire), by Spectrum O-Mr. and Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone; B-Mr. & Mrs. Bertram R. Firestone (Va) |
| 11 |
INTERPATATION, 8, G, by LangfuhrIdealistic Cause, by *Habitony O-Elliot Mavorah; B-Larry Cassaday & Jack O. Thompson (Ky) |
Eleven turf marathoners will vie 1 1/2 miles in Saturday’s $500,000 Joe Hirsch
Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) at Belmont Park and this event looks to be
wide-open.
Grade 2 heroine TREAT GENTLY (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) deserves a long look in this
race for conditioner Bill Mott, and just her inclusion makes her a threat. The
Juddmonte homebred has been victorious in both of her Belmont tries to date,
including a resounding 4 1/2-length triumph in the Sheepshead Bay S. (G2) two prior.
The bay relishes a route of ground, and while she’s facing a deep cast, she
appears to be up to the task. John Velazquez will ride.
Turf dynamo and recent Secretariat S. (G1) winner PADDY O’PRADO (El Prado
[Ire]) will tackle elders for the initial time for conditioner Dale Romans. The
superb grass sophomore has romped in three straight and could be any kind of
star in the making, so we envision him having success against his elders at this
elongated distance. The gray will likely be hammered at the windows in here so
we have to try and beat him, but an open-length score would not surprise us in
the least. Kent Desormeaux has the call.
We’ve been waiting for the Christophe Clement-trained GRASSY (El Prado [Ire])
to break through at this level for a while now, and we’ll give him another
chance from his cozy rail post. The four-year-old gray showed little in the
Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) last out but returns to what appears to be his
desired oval. While the colt lacks the class of these, we think he could be a
major player in here at a big price under Garrett Gomez.
Bowling Green H. (G2) winner AL KHALI (Medaglia d’Oro) was a distant fifth in
this race in 2009 over soft ground, and trainer Bill Mott has already been
making noises about scratching the ridgling if the grounds comes up soft. The
four-year-old appears to be a
better animal at this juncture, though, and rates a
lengthy look beneath pilot Alan Garcia.
BEARPATH (Dynaformer) had anything but a smooth trip in the Sword Dancer
last out but still managed a rallying second for trainer
Ian Wilkes. The Grade 3 hero was a decent fourth when last seen over this oval
in the Man o’ War S. (G1) and gets another furlong to work with, so he’s yet
another who would not shock us with a win. Calvin Borel will be in the irons.
Dual Grade 1 victor WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]) has put together a very
nice year for Clement and had a nice prep for this when a solid
second in the Bowling Green. The accomplished bay could surely be in the
mix here with his best, even if we’re not thrilled about him breaking from the
10 post. French Group 1 hero NEVER ON SUNDAY (Fr) (Sunday Break [Jpn]) has put in a
pair of solid tries since coming to the United States for conditioner Patrick Biancone,
but the five-year-old hasn’t raced since March and could need one. Multiple Grade 1
scorer TELLING (A.P. Indy) is impossible for us to get a gauge
on, so we’ll toss him in some of our wagers just in case he decides to string
together big performances.
SOLITAIRE (Victory Gallop) has done his best running north of the border and
looks in a bit deep here. We’re off the STRIKE A DEAL (Smart Strike)
bandwagon. Defending champ Grade 1 winner INTERPATATION (Langfuhr) drew widest
and would be a stunner in our eyes.