Red Rifle shoots for BC Turf spot
ELMONT, N.Y. – A new running style has turned Red Rifle into a new horse, and now there may be a serious new North American-based threat for the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Red Rifle will get a chance to earn an all-expenses paid berth into the Turf when he runs in Saturday’s Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park.
The Hirsch, run at 1 1/2 miles on turf, is one of five graded stakes on an 11-race card Saturday that begins at 12:55 p.m. Eastern. The Hirsch and the Grade 1 Vosburgh for sprinters are both Win and You’re In races for the Breeders’ Cup. Also on the card are the Grade 1 Beldame for fillies and mares going long, the Grade 3 Gallant Bloom for fillies and mares sprinting, and the Grade 3 Pilgrim for 2-year-olds on the turf.
Red Rifle, a son of Giant’s Causeway, had some success racing on the front end last year, winning the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup and the Yankee Affair. But in his last three races, Red Rifle has come from off the pace. He won the Grade 3 Dominion Day over Woodbine’s Polytrack and the Grade 2 Bowling Green on turf at Saratoga employing that style. He finished second to Flintshire in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, and Flintshire could very well be the favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
“He’s been a new horse since we’ve gotten him off the pace a little bit,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “We always felt like for the longest time he’s one of those horses when he made the lead and he got into his comfort zone, that’s when he’s really at his best. Now, I think his last two races – even in defeat last time – have probably been his strongest.”
Red Rifle shouldn’t lack for pace in the Joe Hirsch. Shining Copper is in the race to act as a pacemaker for his stablemate Big Blue Kitten. Shining Copper helped Big Blue Kitten win the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park in July and aided his cause when Big Blue Kitten was beaten a neck in the Grade 1 Arlington Million in August.
Twilight Eclipse, second in last year’s Joe Hirsch and winner of this year’s Grade 1 Man o’ War, and Slumber, winner of this year’s Grade 1 Manhattan, also are in with a big chance.
Quiet Force, who won the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, will try to bounce back from a 10th-place finish in the Arlington Million. Perfect Title rides a two-race winning streak into his first Grade 1 try.
KEY CONTENDERS
Red Rifle (Last 3 Beyers: 107-107-103)
◗ Comes into this race in career form, even though he finished second last time to European star Flintshire.
◗ His one win at 1 1/2 miles on turf came here last September in the Yankee Affair Stakes.
Slumber (Last 3 Beyers: 87-102-106)
◗ After winning the Grade 1 Manhattan over this course on Belmont Day and running second to Big Blue Kitten in the United Nations, Slumber finished eighth as the favorite in the Arlington Million, though with legitimate trouble.
“He was totally annihilated on the far turn,” trainer Chad Brown said. “He suffered some lacerations on his legs that were pretty significant. Thankfully, he’s healed up from them and looks okay. Combination between that trip and the soft turf gave the horse no chance. He came back and breezed real strong [Sunday]. Obviously, he’s looking for firm ground.”
Big Blue Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 103-105-101)
◗ He has two wins and two seconds from four starts this year, including a narrow loss to The Pizza Man in the Grade 1 Arlington Million last out.
◗ Has a record of 3-2-0 from six starts at Belmont Park, including a 2 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Fort Marcy to kick off his 7-year-old campaign this year.
◗ Was beaten a nose by Little Mike in this race in 2013 and finished fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths, in this race last year.
Twilight Eclipse (Last 3 Beyers: 102-102-99)
◗ Trainer Tom Albertrani said he would have liked to have seen Twilight Eclipse and jockey Paco Lopez closer to the rabbit Shining Copper in the United Nations when he finished third.
“For whatever reason, Paco didn’t go with him or at least follow him within a few lengths,” Albertrani said. “He found himself trapped the entire race. That race was one of the toughest races we’ve seen him being in trouble and not being able to get out.”
◗ Albertrani said he had no problem with the trip Twilight Eclipse had when third in the Sword Dancer.
◗ Joel Rosario, who was named to ride Twilight Eclipse in the Sword Dancer before getting injured in a spill the race before, will ride him Saturday.