Rockemperor could finally conquer all in Joe Hirsch

ELMONT, N.Y. – As well as Rockemperor ran in his U.S. debut 15 months ago, it seemed only a matter of time before the Irish-bred colt would find his way to the winner’s circle in a significant race.

Despite some big performances over the last year-plus, Rockemperor is still looking to conquer all. Perhaps his time will come in Saturday’s Grade 1, $250,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic when he meets six rivals, three of whom he finished ahead of in the Grade 1 Manhattan in July.

The Joe Hirsch, which honors the esteemed Daily Racing Form columnist who died in 2009, headlines a 10-race Belmont Park card that also includes the Grade 1, $250,000 Belmont Derby for 3-year-olds; the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap; Grade 3 Gallant Bloom, and Grade 2 Pilgrim.

All five stakes figure to have implications on Breeders’ Cup races to be held in five weeks at Keeneland Race Course. The Hirsch, run at 1 1/2 miles over the Widener turf, is a stepping-stone to the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 7.

Rockemperor, an Irish-bred son of Holy Roman Emperor, made his U.S. debut on July 6, 2019, rallying from 14th to finish third, beaten just 1 1/4 lengths in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby. In five subsequent starts, he has three thirds and a second.

In May, Rockemperor came within a nose of upsetting United – California’s top older turf marathoner – in the Grade 2 Charlie Whittingham at Santa Anita. Rockemperor was disqualified from second and placed third for bumping Originaire in upper stretch.

:: Get DRF Betting Strategies for Belmont’s Saturday card

Perhaps Rockemperor’s toughest loss came in the Manhattan, when he took the lead from Cross Border and Channel Maker in deep stretch only to get run down by his since-sidelined stablemate Instilled Regard.

Most recently, Rockemperor finished third in the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic to another stablemate, Digital Age, at Churchill Downs.

“In the Manhattan he was up close, in the pocket, and was unlucky just to lose right in the shadow of the wire,” said Chad Brown, trainer of Rockemperor. “I thought in the last race he was totally out of position and had little chance from where he was with the way he runs. I know [Digital Age] came from off the pace as well, but he’s a different kind of horse.”

It would appear that the Joe Hirsch could set up similarly to the Manhattan. In that race, Cross Border set the pace, stalked by Channel Maker with Rockemperor a ground-saving third. Sadler’s Joy, who was third in the Manhattan, figures to try and rally from farther back with his late-running style.

The wild cards in the field are the Chilean-bred Master Piece and the German-bred Laccario. Master Piece, also trained by Brown, won 4 of 10 starts in Chile before coming to Brown earlier this year. Brown has been impressed enough with Master Piece’s recent workouts to give him a shot in the Hirsch.

“It’s a mile and a half, he’s off the layoff. I wish I had more time with him. I’d love to have another work or so,” Brown said. “It’s late in the year and I kind of want to see where we stand with this horse. I’m just looking for a good effort.”

Laccario won the Group 1 German Derby last year as part of a four-race winning streak for trainer Andreas Wohler. Laccario has only made one start this year, a last-place finish in a Group 1 race where Wohler said the horse had traffic trouble and got tired.

Laccario, who Wohler said has some early speed, is shipping here looking for good-to-firm ground. Laccario only arrived Wednesday, and the hope was he could clear quarantine in time to train Friday. After the race, Laccario will remain in the United States with Graham Motion.

Channel Maker and Sadler’s Joy are each making their fourth straight appearance in the Hirsch. Channel Maker won it over extremely soft ground in 2018 and was second to Arklow over firm turf last year. Channel Maker, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is coming off a career-best effort, winning the Grade 1 Sword Dancer by 5 3/4 lengths over soft Saratoga turf.

Sadler’s Joy has twice finished third in the Hirsch. He didn’t particularly care for the soft ground at Saratoga in the Sword Dancer. Trainer Tom Albertrani had liked the way Sadler’s Joy was training going into that race and says he’s maintained that level since then.

“Going into the race he’s doing as well as ever,” Albertrani said. “Another thing that is going to help him is these small fields work more to his advantage than having to come around 11 horses. In the Bowling Green” – a race from which Sadler’s Joy was disqualified from first – “he still went a little wide but he wasn’t losing too much ground at the end.”

Cross Border is a killer at Saratoga but is 0 for 4 at Belmont. He finished second to Channel Maker as the favorite in the Sword Dancer and looms the primary speed under Kendrick Carmouche on Saturday.

Highland Sky is similar though not as consistent as Sadler’s Joy in that he comes with a late run that typically isn’t good enough to win but has often gotten him in the money.

The Joe Hirsch goes as race 7 on a 10-race card that begins at 12:40 p.m.