Happy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Day! 

Fantastic card at the Big A today with five graded stakes races headlined by the Grade I Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The Joe Hirsch has only five entries plus two MTOs, but it’s a very strong field that includes the defending champion (Far Bridge), the winners of the Sword Dancer (El Cordobes) and the United Nations (Redistricting) along with the two time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance. 

Trivia Question: Which track hosted the initial running of the Woodward Stakes? 

Race 5 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic – Grade I 

One Mile and One Half on the Inner Turf for Three Year Olds and Upward 

1. El Cordobes: Improving four year old who won the Sword Dancer in his first North American start with a nice quickening when asked (105 Beyer) besting stablemate Nation’s Pride. Three of his four career wins are at today’s ten furlongs. Two back he bested a short field in the Group 2 Prince of Wales Stakes at Newmarket with a similar good move over the last furlong. Johnny V takes over for Prat who moves to Redistricting. The Pick. 
2. Redistricting: Chad Brown trainee has hit his stride as his four year old year progressed culminating with wins in the Monmouth Stakes and then in the United Nations (101 Beyer). He benefitted from a nice ground saving trip in the U.N. Finds a salty bunch today. Exotics.
3. Rebel’s Romance: Two time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner runs here search of firmer ground than he could find in Germany. Last out he won the Group 1 Preis von Berlin in Germany where he wore down the leader. Class of the field with over $14 million in career earnings. Yowzah! He’s the one to beat on a firm course. Most likely winner – but today’s not the goal, so maybe he won’t be fully cranked. Using.
4. Rebel Red: Only victory so far in 2025 was in the listed Cherrywood Stakes at Churchill (100 Beyer). Last out in the Sword Dancer he stalked and looked like a possible winner as he got clear at the eighth pole but was passed in the final jumps by El Cordobes (104 Beyer). Hits the board.
5. Far Bridge: Defending champion runs here off a subpar performance in the Sword Dancer where he was in position but then failed to fire (93 Beyer). Has had a great year with wins in the Bowling Green, the Man o’ War, and the Pan American Stakes. His best performance was over a yielding course in the Bowling Green (101 Beyer) winning by three comfortable lengths. If there is cut in the ground – he moves forward. Maybe a piece.
6. Bank Frenzy: (MTO) The first of two MTOs entered by Rudy Rodriguez. If this race comes off it will certainly be sloppy and this Central Banker offspring loves the wet with five wins in seven attempts on a wet track. Has primarily competed in state bred company. The Pick on dirt.
7. Le Gris: (MTO) Second MTO enter by Rudy Rodriguez. Bred to get the mile and a quarter if this goes on the dirt.  He’ll track his stablemate and try to wear him down. Use on the dirt.

Picks 1-3-4 Dirt 6-7 

Race 6 The Woodward – Grade II 

One Mile and One Furlong On the Dirt For Three Year Olds and Upward 

Willy D’s will run scratch and run at Churchill and there are reports that all cross-entered horses will run elsewhere leaving a field of three. That would be unfortunate for a historic race like the Woodward, but either way I prefer Phileas Fogg in a short field or in a field of seven.  

1. Awesome Aaron: Cross-entered at Delaware Park in the Battery Park. Won the Pimlico Special (100 Beyer) as he wore down Phileas Fogg. But has gone off form since that point as he faltered in the Suburban and didn’t fire in the Charles Town Classic. Not today.
2. Post Time: Dominated last out in the black type Polynesian Stakes at Laurel where he only beat two opponents but posted a 103 Beyer as he had it his own way. Two back he was outmatched in the Whitney Stakes against some top older runners. No shame there. Catches a soft field for a Grade II. Won’t have an uncontested lead today. Underneath.
3. Willy D’s: Cross-entered in the Lukas Classic and DRF’s Dave Grening reports he will run at Churchill Downs and scratch from this race.
4. Film Star: Cross-entered at Delaware Park in the Battery Park. Makes the move to graded stakes company coming off two straight allowance wins at the Spa with 95 Beyer in his most recent effort. Has done best on the front end but will be up against it. Was claimed from Linda Rice for $100k by Rob Atras in that last race and Atras moves this Flatter colt into a Grade II. Can contend at his best.
5. Gould’s Gold: Cross-entered at Delaware Park in the Battery Park. If he runs here he comes off an OK third in the Charles Town Classic (93 Beyer) where he closed on a track that is tough to make up ground. Moves back to graded stakes company for the first time since the 2024 Jim Dandy where he was a distant fifth. Not fast enough.
6. Phileas Fogg: Was DQed in the Jockey Club Gold Cup for interference in the opening furlong as he bore in and caused a chain reaction that resulted in Irad Ortiz being unseated. Luckily, all were safe. He did run well in the Gold Cup nonetheless as he got to the lead at the quarter pole but was leg weary late and finished third (105 Beyer). Two back he wired the field in the Suburban (104 Beyer) holding off Antiquarian. Should set the pace. The Pick.
7. Locked: Won both the Cigar Mile last winter and the Santa Anita Handicap (109 Beyer) earlier this year. Enters this race off an OK third in the Suburban Stakes where he didn’t finish off the last furlong (96 Beyer). Had a freshening off that effort and has been working steadily for this race. If he runs anywhere close to his Beyer top which was a 109 in the Santa Anita Handicap last Spring he’ll be the winner. But he has not been the same since that Big ‘Cap effort. Working well in advance of this. Gets a piece. 

Picks 6-7-4 

Trivia Answer: The Woodward Stakes was first contested at Aqueduct in 1954 where it now temporarily resides while we await the opening of the new Belmont Park.