The Hirsch Turf Classic-GI [BC]
                     BEL Race 8 1 1/2M- Turf
                             Purse $500.000
                      Three Year Olds and Up

A full field of twelve plus two also eligibles are entered up in this years Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park and they will all be going for a grade one win and will also be running for a free spot in the Breeders Cup Turf which is worth four thousand smackers. Let’s take a look at this big field.

1. Danke Schon (12-3-6-2 $348.160), trained by Nakamura Stables

Here is a horse who really surprised me in his last out when he won the Bowling Green Handicap at Saratoga last time and he won that day going wire to wire which is very hard to do most of the time. If he runs like he did that day he could be very dangerous out on the lead by himself.

2. Sports Car (10-5-2-2 $341.510), trained by Mb Stables

Now here is a horse who I think is really going to like the stretch out in distance from is last start when he was flying from way back in the Del Mar Mile. He’s now going to get back to that mile and half distance where he ran very well in the Nijinsky. He may be dangerous on the stretch out.

3. Turn Ninnie (18-5-0-1 $433.000), trained by TwinTowers Racing

Well here is a horse who has come on some hard times since that win in the Brooklyn earlier on this year. He has ran two bad races in a row since then and the way he has been running I don’t think he will turn it around against this type of company. I don’t think he has a chance at all unfortunately.

4. Great Bounty (9-3-0-2 $383.070), trained by Drabfantasy

The winner of the third leg of the Canadian triple crown is coming into this race off of a very poor outing in the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup but I think that’s all because of the soft course that he experienced that day. I think if the turf is firm that he has a pretty decent shot to win this race.

5. Rifleman (15-4-6-1 $337.400), trained by EasyMoney Stables

Here is the runner up of the third leg of the Canadian triple crown where he got beat a length by Great Bounty. He ran very well that day but we haven’t seen him since that day so who knows if he is ready to fire or not. If he runs back to that race it definitely gives him a decent shot also.

6. The Force Awakens (21-4-4-1 $803.420), trained by Diablo Diablo

Now here’s a horse who I give a big chance to because he is coming off of a very good race in the grade one Sword Dancer at Saratoga where he ran third by a length. He ran very good that day and a race like that will definitely give him a chance in here. I think he will be tough and run a big race.

7. Speeding Zeus (17-5-1-1 $307.710), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Now here is a horse who was running very good earlier on in the year but once he was bought by the wizard he hasn’t ran a jump yet. He ran a fifth in the United Nations and then a very bad ninth last time in the Sword Dancer. He hasn’t ran good at all recently and I don’t see him turning it around.

8. People Doubted (13-3-5-1 $873.350), trained by Aml Racing

Here we come to the fourth place finisher in this years Kentucky Derby and he has really taken a liking to the turf though in his recent races. He is coming off of a grade one win in the Secrateriat at Arlington last time. I think if he repeats that performance he will be very tough to beat in here.

9. Lone Shadow (7-2-0-4 $158.640), trained by Blushing Meadows

Here is another one coming out of the Secrateriat at Arlington and this horse ran third that day and only got beat by two lengths that day by People Doubted. There has definitely been enough time for him to turn the tables on him since that last race so I guess we will see if he has improved enough.

10. Siberian Prince (16-5-1-2 $1,014.280), trained by Sir Daniel Martin

Last years Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf champ is coming into this race off of a sixth place finish in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga. He didn’t run terrible that day but he didn’t run a great race either. He could definitely have a chance if he runs like he has before but he will have to do that to win.

11. Point Of Royalty (11-3-1-1 $208.320), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Another who is coming out of that Secrateriat at Arlington and this runner split the other two that we already came across when he ran second that day. He also ran a very good race that day and only got beat by a length in there. If he runs like that he definitely has a shot to win this race.

12. Early Retirement (10-4-4-0 $1,587.600), trained by Mb Stables

Now here we come to big horse out here on the outside and he is coming into this race off of a win in the grade one Arlington Million at Arlington. He ran very huge that day when he crushed the competition to win by three lengths. If he repeats that race he is definitely the one to beat and is my top pick.

13. Tried It (6-1-1-2 $61.480), trained by Joshua Stables

Also Eligible

14. Friday Thirteenth (23-7-3-3 $504.650), trained by Nakamura Stables

Also Eligible

Summary

Well this is a very good field with some old classy horses in here and also some very good young talented horses. I think Early Retirement is the one to beat if the post doesn’t hurt him too much but I also think People Doubted has a very good shot to win it also. Good luck to all in the race.

12-8-6-1

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES