The premier turf race of the Belmont Park Fall Championship Meeting is the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1). A field of 8 older horses contested this 1 1/2 mile trip around 2 turns of the Widener turf course, with Sword Dancer Invitational winner Grand Couturier sent off as the 5-2 favorite over 3-1 second choice Dancing Forever, winner of the Elkhorn and Manhattan before finishing third in the Sword Dancer. 7-2 third choice Proudinsky, second to Big Brown in the Monmouth Stakes last time out, completed the top three on the toteboard. Heavy rains on Friday and early Saturday downgraded the course to yielding, and the temporary rail was set in the Lane 2 position (9 feet out).
Presious Passion was loose on the lead by as many as 3 lengths through slow early fractions of 24.97, 50.52, 1:16.84, and 1:42.35 with Strike A Deal stalking him in second down the backstretch. On the far turn, Presious Passion tired and dropped from contention, allowing Strike A Deal to poke his head in front entering the stretch, after 1 1/4 miles in 2:09.07. Jockey Alan Garcia kept favorite Grand Couturier back in sixth early, and moved him four wide into the lane for his rally. Grand Couturier responded with an impressive late kick, taking over the lead at the 3/16 pole and drawing away powerfully through the stretch to a 10 1/4 length victory over late-running Interpatation in 2:34.84 over yielding turf. Third place finisher Summer Patriot just missed 2nd money by a nose, and finished 9 1/4 lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
Jockey Kent Desormeaux aboard Interpatation lodged an objection against Alan Garcia aboard the winner, alleging interference nearing the far turn, but this was disallowed by the stewards and the official order of finish was unchanged.
Results chart
