September 28, 2015
Owner Mb Stables was loaded for bear in the Grade I Hirsch Turf Classic and while he had some very fancied runners, it was longshot War Scent who stole the show with an electrifying run that carried him to a near two-length win over Grade I winner Titan. A Grade II winner last year and coming in with increasingly better form, he found a way to put it all together and catapult himself into the BC Turf picture with a 100-speed rating that is his best in over a year, and one that could make him a key contender at long odds in a race that has no clear favourite.
Pure Violence (23.00) broke the best in the Turf Classic and held a slim early advantage but Ashkalani (10.40) was forced to use up his early energy from post 14 and quickly got to the lead in order to save some ground. El Gran Jet (4.05) and Classical Composer (18.60) held him wide under the stands for the first time and it was actually Classical Composer who took up the mantle and led by a length around the clubhouse turn. Forever Steel (*3.05) tucked into a good spot behind a trio of stalkers while full brother Deja Steel (6.40) looked good behind runners in midpack and everyone seemed to find a spot early, which was nice to see in a full 14-horse field. As the half-mile rang up in a solid 48.27, Classical Composer was still in control by a length and a half along the fence, with I Am Dionysus (20.70) and Pure Violence (23.00) nicely along the rail and while Ashkalani looked good from between horses, that wide post was quite taxing and the middle splits would be the crucial ones in determining his fate. Halfway through in 1:12.33, it became clear that the middle runners were bunching up and that was tough for Forever Steel and El Gran Jet, stuck between rivals with nowhere to run, and great for a horse like Deja Steel who needed only to make his run with clear room outside. Heading into the far turn, I Am Dionysus had given it up and so had El Gran Jet, leaving Ashkalani and Pure Violence to battle Classical Composer with a new shooter emerging inside, in the form of War Scent (14.70). As everyone else swung wide with three-furlongs to go, the longshot found a space and burst forward, taking the lead through 1 ¼ miles in 2:00.55. Pure Violence was still there, Ashkalani was done and Titan (23.75) was the only new horse on the scene but with a furlong to run, that inside move was daring, powerful and completely perfect for the race that had unfolded. In a finish as wild as the 1998 Breeders Cup Classic, War Scent was the winner by nearly two-lengths from Titan, who was six-wide, with Carnage (17.70) rallying up the inside for third and Consus (16.75) coming from out of the clouds in the eight-path for fourth. Pure Violence wound up fifth, Breiterate (8.55) was 11-wide in sixth, Deja Steel was in the parking lot for seventh while Ashkalani and Classical Composer backed away late to finish in midpack. El Gran Jet never had it, Forever Steel floundered between rivals, Skipping Stone (75.10) and Danzing By The Bay (22.25) showed nothing and I Am Dionysus backed up badly to finish last, but still only ten-lengths from the going-away winner.
Longshots lit up the board in the Grade I Hirsch Turf Classic, with War Scent leading home five double-digit runners after an outstanding inside run orchestrated by jockey R J Albarado. While the top two runners have earned their spots for the BC Turf, the big surprises were the efforts of El Gran Jet, who might not make it with horses below him already qualified; Forever Steel, who through in a clunker and looked poised to not make any BC race, and Ashkalani, who was retired after the race and will not be back to defend his title in a surprise move to say the least.
Congratulations goes out to owner Mb Stables and their four-year-old gelding War Scent, a going-away winner of the Grade I Hirsch Turf Classic at BEL!
Prediction El Gran Jet / Forever Steel / Ashkalani
Winner War Scent
Four-year-old bay gelding
Auto-Generated
Owner Mb Stables
Time 48.27, 1:12.33, 2:00.55, 2:24.78
Overall
War Scent 14.70 inside run, squeezed through, clear
Titan 23.75 smart late rally, second-best
Carnage 17.70 inside run, too late
Consus 16.75 minor rally for minor placing
Pure Violence 23.00 failed to menace late
Breiterate 8.55 even effort
Deja Steel 6.40 very wide throughout
Ashkalani 10.40 could not keep pace
Classical Composer 18.60 set fractions, weakened
El Gran Jet 4.05 no late factor
Forever Steel *3.05 disappointed
Skipping Stone 75.10 outrun
Danzing By The Bay 22.25 outrun
I Am Dionysus 20.70 pressed, faded badly
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
