Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park

Las Vegas, NV - Belmont Park will be the scene of the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Saturday, September 29 as part of Jockey Club Gold Cup day. A purse of $600,000 is on the line in this Breeders' Cup Turf Win and You're In race that will be contested for three year olds willing to go 1 1/2 miles on Belmont's turf track.

The Joe Hirsch has drawn a strong field of nine to go in race 9 on Belmont Park's insanely busy Saturday card. Post time is 5:12 PM. Here is a brief look into the performances of all six entries ahead of this important Grade 1 race.

2012 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Race Favorites

Point of Entry - is one of the premier grass horses in the nation and has won four straight races with relative ease heading into the Joe Hirsch - five of his last six including the Grade 1 Sword Dancer last time out, the Grade 1 Man o`War Stakes on July 14 and the Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 27. Before that he won an Allowance at Keeneland March 12 and he finished fourth and first respectively in Allowance races at Gulfstream. Point of Entry is in terrific form and figures to be a big test for the Joe Hirsch field. He is terrific on turf and is the early favorite this Saturday.

Little Mike - has won a stunning six of his last eight races - a fourth in the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes at Gulfstream on March 3 and a third in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on June 30 being the only blemish over that span. Included in the wins are the Grade 1 Arlington Millions last time out, Grade 1 Turf Classic Stakes from Churchill Downs on May 5 and the Florida Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes in January this year. Little Mike is a serious threat in any race - this one included.

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Treasure Beach - raced most of his career in Europe and had some good results there including a win in the Irish Derby. In his North American debut last year, Treasure Beach looked terrific in winning the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park and was good in his second race as well - a third at the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International Stakes at Belmont Park in October. Since then Treasure Beach has only raced all over the map - a disappointing sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Arlington Million followed a fourth back in Europe. He also had a fourth in the Grade 1 Man o' War Stakes this year but and has failed to place in any of his five starts in 2012.

Joe Hirsch Turf Classic betting at Belmont Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Finnegan's Wake - Dale Romans trained colt is won an Allowance at Churchill Downs June 30 and followed that with some good results - a third in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby and a second last time out in the Grade 1 Secretariat at Arlington Park August 18. Like most of the Joe Hirsch entries Finnegan's Wake enters this Saturday racing very well.

Kindergarden Kid - had a fifth and a sixth in a pair of graded stakes races to start 2012 but concentrated on Allowance Optional Claiming in four starts after that with a sixth, two seconds and a third place finish in those races for trainer Barclay Tagg. Last time out was a decent third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Turf Cup - he enters the Joe Hirsch in OK not spectacular form.

Hailstone - had some good results at Belmont Park before moving South. Hailstone posted a very impressive second in the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream on March 24 but has struggled since - a fourth in an Allowance Optional Claiming, a fifth in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap on June 8, a third in the John`s Call Stakes and a sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga August 18.

2012 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Entries & Odds

Race 9 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:12 PM.