2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - The G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic will be run this Saturday, September 30 at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Horses three years old and upward will line up on Belmont Park's turf track and race 1 1/2 miles for the winner's portion of the $500,000 purse and an automatic berth into the 2017 $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf.

An accomplished field of 11 will take to the track in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes - race 10 on Belmont Park's packed Saturday card. Post time is 5:45 PM. Let's take a brief glance into the past performances of all 11 entries for this competitive G1 stakes -a "Win & You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge prep for the Turf.

2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Entries at Belmont Park

Oscar Performance

Impressive Brian Lynch trained Ringling finished sixth in his debut and went on to reel off three impressive wins - a maiden score by an eye opening 10 1/4 lengths at Saratoga last August 20, a terrific six length victory in the G3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park October 1 and a career-defining win by 1 1/4 lengths in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf back in November. He has been mostly good in five starts since - a good 2 1/4 length win in the G1 Secretariat Stakes last time out at Arlington August 12 followed a win in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational here July 8 and a nice 1 1/2 length wire-to-wire win in the G3 Pennine Ridge Stakes on this track June 3. Before that was a tenth in the G2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 6 and a fifth in the G3 Transylvania Stakes at Keeneland April 7. Oscar Performance searches for a third straight G1 score and fourth straight graded stakes win in his first test against older competition. He also tries to make it four-for-four at Belmont Park from post 3 with Jose Ortiz in the irons.

Beach Patrol

Chad Brown trained colt has placed 12 of 15 career starts - four wins, five seconds and three third-place finishes. He enters off a very good win in the G1 Arlington Millions August 12 which followed an OK third in the G1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth July 1 and a slightly disappointing fourth in the G1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park June 10. Before that was a decent second in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6, a fourth in the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap February 11 and another pair of respectable runner-up finishes - the G1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar December 3 and in the G3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park October 8. He also had a win in the G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington August 13, 2016, an OK third in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational, a sixth in the G3 Penn Mile last June 4 and a respectable second in the 2016 G2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs. Beach Patrol has been competitive every time except for a couple of uncharacteristic results, has triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in his last five starts and will chase a second straight G1 score Saturday. Joel Rosario will be in the irons from post 5.

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Money Multiplier

Defending fourth place finisher in this race has four wins, seven seconds and a third-place finish in 17 career starts for trainer Chad Brown. In 2015, he had a couple of good runner-up finishes - the G3 Kent Stakes and the G3 Saranac Stakes but he struggled after that. He has been good in his last nine starts however - a quality second behind Sadler's Joy in the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes last time out at Saratoga August 26 followed a career-best win with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in the G2 Monmouth Stakes July 30, a sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, a fourth in the 2016 G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic October 1 and a second with a terrific 112 Beyer Speed Figure in the 2016 G1 Sword Dancer. He also had consecutive runner-up finishes in 2016 - the G1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park and the G1 Man o' War Stakes on this track. Money Multiplier has placed in seven of his last nine starts overall and will be out to keep a good stretch going. Javier Castellano will be in the saddle from the rail.

Sadler's Joy

Thomas Albertrani trained colt failed to place in his first three career starts but has been good since. Last time out was a very nice last-to-first win in the G1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga August 26 after an OK third behind Hunter O'Riley and Bigger Picture in the G2 Bowling Green Stakes on this track July 29, another third in the G1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park June 10 and yet another third in the G1 Man o' War Stakes on this track May 13. Before that was a good win in the G2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream April 1 and a successful stakes debut - a runner-up finish in the G3 WL McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream January 20. He also had three straight wins in 2016 including consecutive Allowance Optional Claiming scores in New York with the last coming November 9 and a maiden score at Saratoga last August. Sadler's Joy now has five wins, a second and three third-place finishes in 12 career starts, has been a factor in every race the last 12 months and hopes to keep the run going Saturday from gate 4. Julien Leparoux gets the call.

Fanciful Angel

Irish bred Marco Botti trained gelding has 24 career starts with five wins, two seconds and three third-place finishes. He made his North American debut last time out and finished a respectable second behind Beach Patrol with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure in the G1 Arlington Million August 12. He failed to place in four of his last five starts in Europe but did have a Handicap score May 25. Fanciful Angel looked good in his North American bow and hopes to build on that effort from post 9. Irad Ortiz will be in the reins.

The Grey Gatsby

Irish bred DK Weld trainee has four wins, eight seconds and a third-place finish in 26 career starts. He was at his best in 2014 when he won a pair of Group 1 races and a Group 2 - he hasn't tasted victory since. Last time out was a ninth in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes September 9 after a fourth in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes August 10 and a fifth in the Group 3 Meld Stakes July 20 - all at Leopardstown. He failed to place in his previous four starts all well (all Group stakes). The Grey Gatsby makes his North American debut in less-than-spectacular form and will leave from gate 10 with John Velazquez aboard.

Ascend

Has 16 career starts for trainer Graham Motion with six wins and four second place finishes. He made his graded stakes debut June 10 and won the G1 Manhattan Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths with a 104 Beyer Speed Figure on this track June 10 after two more wins - the minor Henry S. Clark Stakes at Laurel Park April 22 and an Allowance at Keeneland October 19. He has failed to place in his last two starts however - a fifth in the G1 Arlington Millions August 12 followed a fourth in the G2 Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga July 29. Ascend showed some serious form in June on this track and hopes a return to Belmont will provide another G1 score. Joe Bravo will try to deliver that hope from gate 6 Saturday.

Mekhtaal

British bred Graham Motion trained colt has three wins and three runner-up finishes in 10 career starts. He made his North American start last time out and finished tenth in the G1 Arlington Millions August 12. Before that was an OK sixth in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot June 21, a nice win in the Prix d'lspahan in France and a pair of runner-up finishes in Group stakes in France. Mekhtaal has failed to place in his last two starts overall but was a serious factor before that. He hopes to return to that form from gate 8. Junior Alvarado will be in the saddle.

Channel Maker

Legendary trainer Bill Mott sends out Channel Maker for his eleventh career start after his 10 starts produced two wins, two seconds and two third place finishes. He placed in his first three career starts at Woodbine including a win in the minor Vandal Stales August 14 and a third in the G2 Summer Stakes in September. He went on to a seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and an eighth in the G3 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream March 4. He has been OK in five starts since - a nice win last time out in the minor Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine August 20 followed an OK fourth in Canada's biggest race - the Queen's Plate, a second in the G3 Marine Stakes May 28 (all three at Woodbine) and a second in an Allowance April 26. Channel Maker will be after a first graded stakes score Saturday and enters in decent form. Manuel Franco has the mount from post 7.

Converge

Won the G3 Palm Beach Stakes February 27, 2016 for trainer Naipaul Chatterpaul and has been underwhelming since. Last time out was a tenth in an Allowance Optional Claiming here September 17 after a third in a similar race at Saratoga August 21 and a sixth and a win in a pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races on this track. He has failed to hit the board in his last three graded stakes tries and tries to channel his Palm Beach Stakes from gate 2 Saturday. Eric Cancel is scheduled to ride.

Tricked Up

Naipaul Chatterpaul trained colt has placed in five of eight career starts - two wins and three second-place finishes. He steps into stakes company for the first time Saturday off an eighth in a Claiming at Saratoga August 21, an Allowance score at Monmouth Park June 10 and off-the-board finishes in his two previous Allowance starts. Tricked Up steps up in less-than-spectacular form and looks as though he will be in over his head from the outside post 11. Luis Reyes rides.

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2017 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Odds & Entries

Race 10 on Belmont Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:45 PM.