Minaret Station survives stewards’ inquiry to nab Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
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ELMONT, N.Y. – At several points along the way in his career, Minaret Station had made his connections wait. So, after crossing the finish line a half-length in front of Far Bridge in Thursday’s $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park, perhaps it was only fitting they had to wait a little longer to be assured of the colt’s first Grade 1 victory.
After rallying five wide turning for home, Minaret Station, under Jose Ortiz, came over a few paths in deep stretch, which caused Flavien Prat to steady on El Cordobes. Minaret Station then got close to Far Bridge, who under John Velazquez finished second, 2 1/4 lengths clear of El Cordobes.
The stewards flashed the inquiry sign, and Velazquez said he claimed foul, though the official chart of the race does not note a foul claim. After a review, the stewards let the result stand.
For his part, Ortiz said he did bother El Cordobes and Prat, but he didn’t believe it had any impact on the order of finish.
“I bothered the Godolphin horse a little bit, Flavien had to take a little hold, but at that point where I bothered him, he was going to already be third, so it didn’t cost him any position,” Ortiz said. “So, that rule was applied, I believe, and I don’t think I bothered Far Bridge at all.”
Velazquez disagreed with Ortiz’s assessment and said Minaret Station did bump him.
“He touched me enough to intimidate the horse,” Velazquez said.
The stewards did not agree.
For Minaret Station, the victory was a long time coming. Though he won the Grade 2 Bourbon at age 2 and the listed American Derby at age 3 – his lone start of 2025 – Minaret Station was winless in four starts this year, his margin of defeat a combined three lengths, three losses coming in graded stakes.
From that standpoint, and the fact this was the first horse Larry Best’s OXO Equine gave to trainer Will Walden as a 2-year-old, the victory was “huge” Walden said.
“They put a lot into this game, a lot of time and funds,” Walden said. “Just to get this one, it encapsulates a lot of time and hard work.”
The Hirsch, and the five other stakes run Thursday, were all postponed from canceled cards last weekend, owing to a nor’easter that dumped more than three inches of rain on this area. Though the turf courses were listed as firm, they definitely had give in them as evidenced by the numerous clods being kicked up in each turf race.
Minaret Station raced a close-up fourth as Program Trading set a slow pace, stalked by Pride of Arras, with El Cordobes sitting third. The first six furlongs went in 1:16.92.
Minaret Station raced four wide down the backside, within 2 1/2 lengths of the lead. He gradually inched closer and in upper stretch appeared as though he was poised to draw off. But El Cordobes, to his inside, was still running, and Far Bridge, in his first start off a six-month layoff, was rallying along the inside.
Ortiz brought Minaret Station over to compete with those two horses, and though he did come over on El Cordobes, that horse was not going on inside the sixteenth pole despite having to steady. Minaret Station was able to outfinish Far Bridge.
Minaret Station, a 4-year-old son of Instilled Regard who won for the fourth time in nine starts, covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:28.18 and returned $13.72 as the third choice.
“Obviously, dealt with some issues along the way, at the end of his 2-year-old year and leading up to the Saratoga Derby last year,” Walden said. “He’s just been the epitome of consistency in the afternoon and in the morning and just couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Walden said Minaret Station would be pointed to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Far Bridge, the 2024 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic winner, has had his share of issues along the way. He was injured winning the Pan American at Gulfstream in March and was making his first start in six months, second in a year.
“I thought he ran great, I thought he ran gallantly off a long layoff, and I’m very proud of him,” trainer Miguel Clement said. “We’re just a neck away from basically winning it. Jose did wipe out El Cordobes and did bump us the last 50 yards, nevertheless that’s race riding and the stewards [made] no change. We will respect their decision.”
Clement was non-committal about moving on to the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
El Cordobes, making just his second start of his 5-year-old season, got tired a bit in the stretch, trainer Charlie Appleby said jockey Prat told him.
“He ran a bit fresh, and when they quickened he said ‘I knew I had a fair bit of stretch to run still and he just got tired,’ ” Appleby said. “Yes, he got impeded the last part. I’ll leave that up to the judges.”
Asked if El Cordobes did enough to move on to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Appleby simply said “No.”
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