Flintshire on his own for Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. – Flintshire will not have any pace help when he seeks his fourth consecutive victory of the year in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park.

Flintshire won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga by 1 3/4 lengths on Aug. 27. But there was some controversy in the race when Inordinate, who was entered as a pacemaker, or rabbit, for Flintshire, came off the inside at the top of the stretch. That created an opening along the rail for Flintshire while forcing jockey Florent Geroux on Roman Approval to steady.

Mike Maker, the trainer of Roman Approval, who finished sixth, claimed foul on Inordinate, but the stewards dismissed the complaint. Further, the owners of Roman Approval submitted a protest to the New York State Gaming Commission, which the commission declined to even hear.

“Our intent was always to try and string the field out a little bit, maybe give him a little bit more room to run,” said Chad Brown, who trains Flintshire for Juddmonte Farms. “The way it unfolded last time … I’d rather take my chances, I think, in a slower-paced race and not have all of the drama.”

Brown also ran second in the Sword Dancer with Money Multiplier. On Sunday, Flintshire and Money Multiplier worked five furlongs in company in 1:03.20, very much in hand and very much together.

“Both horses were moving strong and straight,” Brown said.

Ectot, Grand Tito, and Twilight Eclipse are the only other horses expected to run in the Joe Hirsch, which offers a fees-paid berth in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

Entries for the Joe Hirsch, one of five stakes races on Saturday’s card, are to be taken Wednesday.