Godolphin's Rebel's Romance, El Cordobes tune up for Joe Hirsch Classic
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Rebel’s Romance, his Grade 1-winning Godolphin stablemate El Cordobes, and multiple Grade 1 winner Far Bridge head a field of five entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
Rebel’s Romance, a winner of 19 of 28 races, including the Group 1 Preis von Berlin in Germany in his last start, and El Cordobes, winner of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer last month, both stretched their legs Monday morning over the Oklahoma turf course in Saratoga.
Track clockers caught El Cordobes going a half-mile in 53 seconds, with a final quarter in 24. Rebel’s Romance went a half-mile in 54 seconds with a final quarter of 24.60.
El Cordobes drew the rail in the Hirsch and will be ridden by John Velazquez. Rebel’s Romance drew post 3 and will be ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Far Bridge, last year’s Joe Hirsch winner, has won a trio of graded stakes this year and was beaten a neck by stablemate Deterministic in the Grade 1 Manhattan. Most recently, Far Bridge finished sixth as the even-money choice in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga.
Redistricting, winner of the Grade 2 United Nations for Chad Brown, and Rebel Red, second in the Sword Dancer for Cherie DeVaux, complete the field on turf. Bank Frenzy and Le Gris were entered to run only if the race is transferred to the dirt.