Gufo, War Like Goddess clash in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Grade 1 stakes winners Gufo and War Like Goddess both suffered a narrow loss in their most recent start. Saturday, they both get a chance to get make amends when they face each other for the first time in the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Aqueduct.
The Turf Classic is one of three stakes on an 11-race card that includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh for sprinters and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron for juvenile fillies on turf.
While not a designated Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, the Hirsch is expected to produce a starter or two for that $4 million race on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.
Gufo has finished in the top three in 18 of his 20 races, winning nine of them. He lost a nose decision to Red Knight in the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup on Sept. 10. That race came two weeks after he won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga.
Gufo, third behind Rockemperor in last year’s Joe Hirsch, drew the outside in a seven-horse field. Junior Alvarado will ride Gufo as regular pilot Joel Rosario is riding at Keeneland Saturday.
The 5-year-old mare War Like Goddess, trained by Bill Mott, won the Grade 3 Bewitch and Grade 2 Glens Falls this year. Sent off the 1-5 favorite in the Grade 2 Flower Bowl, War Like Goddess fell a neck short of loose-on-the-lead Virginia Joy.
With War Like Goddess having run just three times this year and with an eye on the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 1/2 miles, Mott elected to run War Like Goddess against the boys Saturday.
Rosario had ridden War Like Goddess in all three of her starts this year. Jose Lezcano has picked the mount.
War Like Goddess will break from post 2.
Also entered were Rockemperor, Adhamo, Astronaut, Soldier Rising, and Bye Bye Melvin.
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