El Cordobes back for Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

After a relatively quiet first half of the season, the Godolphin juggernaut has picked up steam in recent weeks over in England, primarily with its two-year-old class. In some cases, it has also been with its older runners, with Notable Speech being a case in point.

El Cordobes, who has not seen action since February, will look to maintain that momentum on Saturday as one of seven in a solid renewal of the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park.

This is the second crack at the Turf Classic by El Cordobes, who entered last year’s edition at Aqueduct off a U.S. debut victory in the Sword Dancer (G1). However, he proved no match for stablemate Rebel’s Romance in either the Turf Classic or Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), the latter a race in which both placed behind Ethical Diamond.

El Cordobes has had just one run this term, in a Group 2 in Qatar on Feb. 14, in which he finished fifth to the Japan-based Deep Monster, with the classy Goliath and Giavellotto also placing ahead of him.

“He’s very much on a winter program, for sure, and hopefully will do well and go and win this and put himself in the Breeders’ Cup picture again,” trainer Charlie Appleby said. “If he goes and runs well, we will go down a normal sort of route with him, campaigning through the winter and ultimately looking at Qatar and the Dubai City of Gold (G2) and stuff like that. That’s why he’s not been seen for the summer.”

Pride of Arras has done his best running at York, where he’s won a pair of Group 2s and placed second in the York (G2) to Item, who went on to capture the Juddmonte International (G1). Pride of Arras enters the Turf Classic off a one-length success in the September (G3) over Kempton’s all-weather surface.

“He particularly likes going left-handed on a flat track, so Belmont should suit him really well,” trainer Ralph Beckett said.

Another England-based runner, Fort George, has been on an extended stay in America this summer. A nose second in the Bowling Green (G2), he was most recently third behind the mare Tiffany and Ethical Diamond in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2).

“Bad draw, slowly away and a messy race,” trainer Ed Walker said of the Kentucky Downs venture. “I think the two [Europeans] got a much better trip than he did.”

Like El Cordobes, Far Bridge has had only one prior run this term. The 2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner was a dull fourth in his title defense last year but followed up with a neck triumph in the March 28 Pan American (G3) at Gulfstream.

Minaret Station and Program Trading were beaten by the mare Survie in the Christophe Clement Turf (G1) at Saratoga last out, while 2025 Jockey Club Derby (G2) winner Asbury Park enters off a second-place finish in an allowance.

The $500,000 Flower Bowl (G2) for fillies and mares returns to its former distance of 1 1/4 miles this year, which makes it a suitable Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), which will be contested over 1 3/16 miles at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Kathynmarissa has essentially been America’s leading turf mare so far this season, beating Breeders’ Cup winner Gezora in the Modesty (G3) and later making amends for a defeat in the New York (G1) by taking the Diana (G1). She figures to be tested, though, by several European invaders.

Sunlit Uplands will be making her second start in America, having fallen a neck short of And One More Time in the Ballston Spa (G2) over 1 1/16 miles. Esna arrives off a pair of Group 3 placings at both Ascot and Deauville, while Cathedral could improve on her fourth in the Diana if the ground proves quicker.

Also in the Flower Bowl are Evershed and Storm Miami, one-two in the Waya (G3) at Saratoga last out.