Robert Bruce likely to go long, target Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Robert Bruce, having taken care of business Saturday by winning the Arlington Million, was headed back to New York on Sunday for a fall campaign likely to focus on races over longer distances than the Million’s 1 1/4 miles.

The two major 1 1/4-mile older-horse turf races in North America are the Manhattan and the Million, and from here on out, it is either 1 1/2 miles or one mile for top-class older grass horses. Robert Bruce will take the longer route and be pointed for the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic over 1 1/2 miles on Sept. 29 at Belmont Park. The Chilean-bred import won the Million by a half-length over stablemate Almanaar, who is likely to be cut back in distance. Trainer Chad Brown’s pair were much the best Saturday; it was two lengths farther back to third-place finisher Century Dream.

Among Robert Bruce’s four Group 1 wins in Chile was a two-length victory over 1 1/2 miles on turf.

“He has run that far back home,” said Brown, who won his second straight Million and third overall. “I think he’ll do it here, but I have to see how he trains first.”

Despite clocking 2:02.29 for 1 1/4 miles in the Million, a time 1.25 seconds slower than the 3-year-old Carrick’s winning time over the same distance earlier on the card in the Grade 1 Secretariat, Robert Bruce got a 104 Beyer Speed Figure, up from his numbers in two prior North American starts this year. Robert Bruce’s only loss from nine starts came in the Manhattan, where he raced in heavy traffic for much of the trip and didn’t find clear running until it was too late.

Since neither Robert Bruce nor his sire, Fast Company, is Breeders’ Cup-nominated, it would cost Robert Bruce’s connections $200,000 to make him a late Breeders’ Cup nominee this year. Such horses, if they’re from South America, can be nominated for $50,000 if a payment is made before July 15. Since that deadline has passed the Robert Bruce camp, if they have any interest at all in paying the fee, they might as well wait until after the Joe Hirsch before deciding what to do.

Almanaar has done most of his racing between one mile and 1 1/8 miles, and while he stayed the 1 1/4 miles of the Million, Almanaar doesn’t look like an ideal 1 1/2-mile candidate.

“I’m not feeling a mile and a half for Almanaar,” said Brown.

“I always thought he was a mile and an eighth to a mile and a quarter. He may be able to cut back as much as a mile and be effective. He’s versatile enough, he has a really good turn of foot.”

Shadwell Farm owns Almanaar and happens to sponsor one of the major one-mile turf races of the fall, the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland in October.

– additional reporting by David Grening