|
Cape Blanco returning stateside for Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
 |
| Cape Blanco is scheduled to make his second foray at Belmont Park in the Joe Hirsch
(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) |
CAPE BLANCO (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), who has made two successful trans-Atlantic raids
so far in 2011, will make another trip from Ireland to the United States to
compete in Belmont Park's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (G1) on
October 1, trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed Friday via email.
Winner of last year's Irish Derby (Ire-G1) and Irish Champion (Ire-G1), Cape Blanco already has a
victory at Belmont to his credit, having defeated multiple champion Gio Ponti
(Tale of the Cat) in the Man
o' War (G1) in July. He returned to the Ballydoyle training center in Ireland following
that July 9 contest, then returned stateside to defeat Gio Ponti once again
in the August 13 Arlington Million (G1) in his most recent start.
"He appears to be in great form so we're hopeful he'll run somewhere close to
best again in the Joe Hirsch," said O'Brien, who trains the four-year-old for
Mrs. Fitri Hay, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor. "He's an
extremely laid-back horse so the traveling doesn't seem to take too much out of
him."
O'Brien said Cape Blanco's travel plans have not been finalized but that
the chestnut is likely to depart for New York on September 27.
|
A victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic would bolster Cape Blanco's case for
the 2011 Eclipse Award for champion turf male, a fact not lost upon
O'Brien and the owners.
"He's beaten 2009 and 2010 champion turf horse Gio Ponti in both the Man o'
War and the Arlington Million, so we'd like to think he's in with a good shot at
getting an Eclipse Award," O'Brien said. "However, there are plenty of races yet
to be run, so let's see what happens. There was no great 'master plan' to win an
Eclipse Award, but we're delighted that he is now in contention for one."
Send this article to a friend
| 
