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Presious Passion loves firm turf in Clement Hirsch

Presious Passion was uncatchable in the Hirsch (Benoit Photos) Patricia Generazio's PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) fled Belmont's soggy Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) on October 3, with trainer Mary Hartmann opting instead for the sunny California skies and firm turf of Oak Tree's $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1) on Sunday. The wisdom of that move was made abundantly clear when the multiple Grade 1 star dominated his rivals in trademark front-running fashion. Presious Passion's task was made even easier when his lone pace rival, Black Astor (Black Minnaloushe), was scratched. Sprinting straight to his customary spot on the lead, the 6-5 favorite got away with a comfortable opening quarter in :24 1/5. Presious Passion increased the tempo through a half in :47 2/5, and enjoyed a sizeable lead while posting splits of 1:11 2/5 and 1:35 2/5. The flashy chestnut gelding never looked like being caught as he powered down the stretch, crossing the wire 2 1/2 lengths in front in a final time of 1:59 for 1 1/4 miles. Presious Passion furnished mutuels of $4.60, $3.20 and $2.80 while spearheading the $1 exotics -- $13.90 (exacta), $62.50 (trifecta) and $272.80 (2-1-8-3 superfecta). "Everything went good today," said winning rider Elvis Trujillo, who was guiding Presious Passion for the eighth straight time. "This horse stayed very relaxed. When the number nine (Black Astor) was a late scratch, that was good for us. I wasn't worried about the distance because this horse gives 100 percent. He tries hard at a mile and one eighth or a mile and a quarter."

"The race went pretty much as I expected," Hartmann said. "I didn't think Lisa's horse (Black Astor, trained by Lisa Lewis) was a real threat. We'll stay here and go to the Breeders' Cup (Turf [G1] on November 7). The mile and a half is better for him. We needed good weather and firm turf. That's why we came here from New York."

Medici Code (GB) (Medicean) emerged from the pack to finish best of the rest by three-quarters of a length, paying $5.60 and $4 at 6-1. The late-running Spring House (Chester House), the 5-1 second choice, checked in third and returned $3. Times Gone By (Giant's Causeway) came another length away in fourth, followed by the sophomore Rendezvous (Victory Gallop), Artiste Royal (Ire) (Danehill), Sir Dave (Untuttable) and Quarter Moon (Tactical Cat).

Presious Passion was earning his third career Grade 1 score, having captured the last two runnings of the United Nations S. (G1) at Monmouth Park. When defending his title two starts back, he smashed the 1 3/8-mile course record by clocking 2:10 4/5. He did not run up to that level on rain-affected ground in the Arlington Million (G1) last time out, where he faded to finish last of eight. Hartmann was resolved to avoid another such debacle when the turf came up soft for the Joe Hirsch, prompting the change of scenery to the Clement Hirsch.

In addition to his two United Nations trophies, Presious Passion also counts victories in the Mac Diarmida S. (G2), Cliff Hanger S. (G3), Pan American H. (G3), Monmouth S., Jersey Derby and two editions of the W. L. McKnight H. (G2). Many of these scores were upsets at double-digit odds. Presious Passion has placed in five other black-type events, including narrow second-place finishes in the Sunshine Millions Turf and Pan American earlier this year. His record now stands at 41-13-6-2, $2,032,018.

Bred in Florida by Joseph and Helen Barbazon, the winner is the first registered foal from the unraced Marquetry mare Princesa's Passion, who also has an unraced juvenile filly named Exchangeable (Exchange Rate) and a weanling colt by Medaglia d'Oro. This is the family of multiple Grade 1 victor Bemo (Maribeau), hero of the 1977 United Nations.

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