Spring Quality possible for Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Following a brief illness, Grade 1 Manhattan winner Spring Quality finished third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer for trainer Graham Motion at Saratoga last Saturday. Glorious Empire and Channel Maker raced one-two throughout the 1 1/2-mile turf race.

The race was Spring Quality’s first since he became dehydrated and had an intestinal impaction after shipping to Chicago, and had to be scratched from the Aug. 11 Arlington Million. Motion is now considering Spring Quality for the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a 1 1/2-mile race at Belmont Park on Sept. 29.

Irish War Cry is back on a weekly workout schedule. Motion said he would like to find a race for him in September and then consider a start in the Breeders’ Cup.

Irish War Cry’s last two Fair Hill breezes have come over turf.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do with him,” Motion said.

Irish War Cry was pulled up during the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 16, a race run in extremely hot weather. The 4-year-old son of Curlin had a similar experience in the Gulfstream Park Mile last winter and was found to have the thumps, an electrolyte imbalance.

In between those two races, Irish War Cry impressively won the Pimlico Special.

Motion plans to target races in cooler weather for Irish War Cry and has lessened his dosage of Lasix.

“He is the most complicated horse I’ve ever trained,” Motion said of the five-time winner and earner of more than $1.2 million.

Thewayiam, who swept the Gulfstream Park turf series for 3-year-old fillies last winter, has been sent to Florida for a vacation. She turned in an uncharacteristic seventh-place effort in the Lake Placid at Saratoga on Aug. 18 but came out of the race physically fine, according to Motion.

“This was the first time she didn’t run well, even though she trained well up to the race,” Motion said. “She likes Florida, so we’ll give her a nice break and rejoin her over the winter.”

Lady Alexandra, who finished second, beaten only a neck by males in the Grade 1 Highlander at Woodbine on June 30, has had two recent works.

"We gave her a little freshening," Motion said. "It’s possible we send her back to Woodbine for a sprint race against males on festival weekend."

The Grade 2, $250,000 Nearctic is a six-furlong turf race for 3-year-olds and up on Oct. 13.