The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) was dominated in its early years by fillies and mares. They won four of the first six editions of the race, including four in a row from 1980-83.
War Like Goddess has done her part in recent years to recall that era. On Saturday, the seven-year-old will attempt to win the $500,000, 1 1/2-mile fixture at Aqueduct for an unprecedented third year in a row.
Top-level fillies and mares are rarely still running at War Like Goddess’ age, but she has shown few signs this season to suggest this assignment is beyond her capability. A rallying third in a too-short, 1 3/16-mile New York (G1) to start the term, she subsequently captured the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) by a measured length.
War Like Goddess couldn’t overcome a similarly pedestrian pace last time in the Flower Bowl (G2), finishing second to longshot Idea Generation over ground with considerable give in it. But the presence of speedy types like Get Smokin and Silver Knott figure to help.
Get Smokin is the most obvious candidate to set the pace, breaking from post 1. The gelded son of Get Stormy stole the United Nations (G2) at Monmouth as a 9-1 chance two back, but his repeat bid in the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) earlier this month flamed out when he set a pace much swifter than was the case the previous year.
Silver Knott, who captured the Elkhorn (G2), Man o’ War (G2), and Bowling Green (G2) in quick succession earlier this year, shouldn’t be far behind. His tactical foot was not put to good use, however, in last month’s Sword Dancer (G1), when Far Bridge unexpectedly seized early control and led wire-to-wire. Silver Knott made no late impression when settling for third.
The field of seven also includes recent Colonial Cup winner Truly Quality and multiple graded stakes winner Emmanuel.
The once-important $400,000 Woodward (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles will have yet another small field on Saturday. Skippylongstocking, whose wins this season include Grade 2 scores in the Oaklawn H. and Charles Town Classic, appears on paper he might have a tactical advantage over the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of Crupi and Tapit Trice.
Deep-closing Crupi won the Suburban (G2) in June, was a distant second to marathoner extraordinaire Next in the Brooklyn (G2), and then rallied for second to Arthur’s Ride in the Whitney (G1), in which he finished more than six lengths ahead of Skippylongstocking. Tapit Trice, meanwhile, was a resounding winner of the Monmouth Cup (G3) in his belated season debut, but a dull fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) last out.
Adding mystery to the field is Chilean superstar Kay Army, who enters his U.S. debut undefeated from 10 starts, including his homeland’s Triple Crown. Kay Army is now based with Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who has won the Woodward a record five times.
The $250,000 Vosburgh (G2), a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep for the Sprint (G1) at Del Mar, will be without recent Grade 1 winners Mullikin and Nakatomi. Instead, the headliners include Dean Delivers, who rides a four-stakes win streak into the seven-furlong dash, and Baby Yoda, a six-length winner of the True North (G2) three back.
The other Breeders’ Cup Challenge prep on Saturday is the $200,000 Pilgrim (G2), which will pit eight two-year-olds racing for a spot in the Juvenile Turf (G1) at Del Mar. Trainer Chad Brown offers a solid one-two punch with Zulu Kingdom, a French import who landed the With Anticipation (G2), and Saratoga maiden winner Early Adopter.
Another to keep an eye on is Concord Green, who made a favorable impression winning on debut at Saratoga as a 13-1 shot for owner-breeder Stuart Janney and trainer Shug McGaughey.
