Champion Rebel’s Romance makes New York return in G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

On Saturday at Belmont at the Big A, another chapter will be written in the storied history of the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a race that has showcased the very best of American turf racing for decades, while also serving as a key trajectory point toward the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Six winners of the 1 1/2-mile inner turf contest proceeded to take the same-distance Turf in the same season—Manila [1986], Theatrical [1987], Tikkanen [1994], Buck’s Boy [1998], English Channel [2007] and Main Sequence [2014]. Furthermore, five winners have gone on to finish second in the Turf as either the favorite or second-choice - Sunshine Forever [1988], Sky Classic [1992], Kitten’s Joy [2004], Point of Entry [2012] and Beach Patrol [2017] - while five more winners have gone on to finish third in the Turf, including John’s Call [2000], English Channel [2006], Big Blue Kitten [2015], Channel Maker [2020] and War Like Goddess [2022]. Needless to say, there has been a high circulation of class in this celebrated affair, so it comes as no surprise that this year’s field bleeds very much in the same vein.

The headliner in a succinct-yet-salty set is Godolphin’s homebred two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and $14 million earner Rebel’s Romance, who enters off a victory in Germany’s Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin, an effort that followed a respectable third for the second consecutive year in Europe’s top 12-furlong race of the summer, the Group 1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth.

One of the world’s most popular racehorses, the 7-year-old gelding’s form holds an international rating of 122 - a mere pound below his career peak. On Saturday, he seeks his 20th career victory and ninth at the top level. The Charlie Appleby trainee also looks to improve upon a disappointing odds-on fourth in this race two years ago, as well as become the first foreign-trained winner of the race since Aidan O’Brien’s Cape Blanco in 2011.

Frankie Dettori will substitute for regular partner William Buick from post 3. Dettori took up a similar role this week three years ago for Appleby when guiding Nations Pride to a win in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational over course and distance.

The pair will be joined by another Godolphin color-bearer in El Cordobes, a $2.3 million purchase as a Tattersalls yearling who has long been highly regarded by connections. A late-blooming sort with four wins from 10 starts, the 4-year-old son of Frankel flexed his ascending form last month when taking the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer at Saratoga, backing up his eye-catching victory in the Group 2 Princess of Wales’s at Newmarket’s famed July Meeting and upping his international rating to 116. Splitting horses smartly in the final furlong at the Spa, the emblazoned bay claimed his first Grade 1 by a half-length with Flavien Prat in the saddle, besting Rebel Red and Nations Pride.

This time around, Hall of Famer John Velazquez - winner with Turk Passer [1995], Kitten’s Joy, English Channel [both times] and Point of Entry - will do the honors from post 1.

“The plan has been to send the pair of them over and they’re both in good order,” Appleby said. “Obviously, El Cordobes is slightly younger, but both he and Rebel’s Romance come in off the back of nice successes in their last runs. Hopefully that gives us a little confidence that one of them will be picking up the prize.”

Speaking of improving sons of Frankel, aforementioned blueblood Rebel Red has come to handle beautifully for Cherie DeVaux in 2025, winning Churchill Downs’ Listed Chorleywood in June two starts before his Sword Dancer effort.

A full-brother to Group 1 St James’s Palace winner Without Parole and a half-brother to Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile champ Tamarkuz - both eight-furlong specialists - the 4-for-14 5-year-old has found his niche in longer distances and appears to be on the up in a significant way. Jose Ortiz, winner of this race on Ectot [2016] and Channel Maker [2018], rides from post 4 for Eurowest Bloodstock and breeder John D. Gunther.

“He exited the Sword Dancer in great condition and trained forwardly since then,” DeVaux said. “He has won at shorter distances in lower-level races, but these longer races seem to be what he’s best at. The Breeders’ Cup is definitely the goal for him.”

A mainstay at the top level of turf racing in America for three consecutive seasons, LSU Stables’ Far Bridge will attempt to defend his title when he breaks from the outermost post 5 under Hall of Famer and dual race winner Joel Rosario for trainer Miguel Clement. Rosario, aboard for last year’s score, also won this event with Beach Patrol [2017].

The three-time Grade 1-winning son of aforementioned dual Joe Hirsch winner English Channel exits a sixth in the Sword Dancer, an effort that followed a victory in the Grade 2 Bowling Green, his third graded stakes win of 2025. Far Bridge is 2-for-2 on the Big A green and seeks to turn the tables on Rebel’s Romance, who bested him by 5 3/4-lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall. 

“He’s doing well and fortunately can handle any ground,” said Clement, whose late father Christophe won the Joe Hirsch in 2010 with Winchester in addition to Far Bridge last year. “Obviously, he didn’t have much racing luck last time, but we are optimistic he can win his second consecutive Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, just like his sire did.”

The field is completed by another domestic graded stakes winner looking to add to his trophy case in Klaravich Stables’ Grade 2 United Nations winner Redistricting [Flavien Prat, post 2], who will attempt 12 furlongs for the first time.

Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old son of Kingman has come to life this summer on the Jersey Shore, winning the Listed Monmouth before his United Nations and taking each in smart fashion, stepping up from nine to 11 furlongs with aplomb. Out of a full-sister to 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey, it would be no surprise if he relished the additional real estate. Brown will seek his fourth win in the race, following the aforesaid Beach Patrol and Big Blue Kitten as well as Rockemperor [2021].

“He’s running, but I’m slightly concerned the ground may be soft,” Brown said.

Bank Frenzy and Le Gris are entered for the main-track only.

The Joe Hirsch, slated as Race 5, headlines a stacked 12-race program supported by the Grade 2, $300,000 Woodward in Race 6, and the Grade 3, $200,000 Vosburgh presented by Army Mule in Race 9, awarding a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar. Also featured are the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom in Race 8 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint in Race 4. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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