Clean trip might see Japan turn the tables on Gufo in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
ELMONT, N.Y. – Japan gets a chance to avenge his neck defeat to Gufo in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga six weeks ago when the two meet again as part of a seven-horse field entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park.
Japan had a little trouble in the Sword Dancer, having to wait for Gufo to clear him in midstretch before being switched by Ryan Moore to the outside and making a rally that just fell short.
“He couldn’t get out when he wanted to get out,” T.J. Comerford, assistant to Aidan O’Brien, said this week. “He’s still in good order, but he has to come back and do it again.”
Japan is a 5-year-old son of Galileo who was a multiple Group 1 winner as a 3-year-old in 2019. After going 0 for 5 last year, Japan has come back this year with two Group 3 stakes wins in Great Britain but two sound defeats against tougher. Comeford said that both of those poor races were run “over very bad ground.”
The Belmont turf figures to be firm Saturday after what has been a dry week on Long Island.
Wayne Lordan is in to ride Japan from post 7.
Gufo’s performance in the Sword Dancer was his most complete race to date. Gufo had run a bit erratically in some of his earlier races, including his victories, but was straight throughout in the Sword Dancer owing in part to trainer Christophe Clement instructing Joel Rosario not to use his whip.
“He runs better without the whip, so we’ll stick to it,” Clement said.
Clement acknowledged that Japan had a little trouble in the Sword Dancer.
“Without a doubt, but he also had the whole stretch to beat us,” Clement said. “Gufo had a very good ride in the Sword Dancer.”
Gufo’s works at Belmont Park since the Sword Dancer haven’t been as visually impressive as they were at Saratoga. Clement said part of that might have to do with Rosario not being available to work him at Belmont owing to out-of-town commitments. Rosario had worked the horse at Saratoga.
“His last work last weekend was a good work,” Clement said.
Gufo breaks from post 3 under Rosario on Saturday.
Gufo, Japan, and Arklow, the 2019 Joe Hirsch winner, will likely have to overcome the seeming lack of pace in this year’s renewal of the 1 1/2-mile turf race. That could make Channel Maker, last year’s Joe Hirsch winner, a factor.
Channel Maker was a front-running winner of both the Sword Dancer and Joe Hirsch last year, but both were run over turf less firm than what he is likely to encounter Saturday. Channel Maker, now 7, has been off form this year and is coming out of a sixth-place finish in the Sword Dancer after controlling the early pace.
“He’s trained very well this summer, we just haven’t come up with the right scenario for him in the afternoon,” said Bill Mott, Channel Maker’s trainer.
Manny Franco rides Channel Maker from post 6.
Arklow, also 7, finished a troubled second, beaten a neck by Imperador, in the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup on Sept. 11. Trainer Brad Cox liked the race and the fact Arklow received a 100 Beyer Speed Figure – the 10th triple-digit Beyer of his career.
“He had a little traffic trouble down the lane,” Cox said of the Kentucky Downs race. “Thought he ran a winning race. It was encouraging to see him get back to the triple-digit Beyer level. He’s trained well this year, as well as he had in years past. He’s got a little bit of age on him, being 7, but he’s trained like a horse that hasn’t regressed and that gives us the confidence to try a race like this.”
Jose Lezcano rides from post 2.
Cross Border and Rockemperor finished third and fourth in the Sword Dancer. Serve the King is coming off a victory in the John’s Call Stakes gong 1 5/8 miles at Saratoga.
The Joe Hirsch, named after the legendary Daily Racing Form columnist who died in 2009, is a stepping-stone to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
The Hirsch goes as race 7 on a 12-race card that also includes the Grade 2 Vosburgh for sprinters and Grade 3 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old fillies on turf.