Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes - Grade 1
Belmont Park - 1st October 2026
“Minaret Station, but he remains lightly raced, especially over this distance and so it is not impossible to think that he could give a good account of himself at the Breeders’ Cup at the end of this month”.
The rescheduled Joe Hirsch Turf Classic took place at Belmont Park on Thursday evening and I think that it is fair to say that there was quite an upset. The build up to the race had focussed on the European runners and the market found it very difficult to split El Cordobes and Pride of Arras. The former had won the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August 2025 and ended last season with a 3rd placed finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf behind Ethical Diamond, whilst the latter had won the G3 September Stakes at Kempton Park in September. This was the first time that we had seen El Cordobes since the Breeders’ Cup and so he can perhaps be forgiven a lacklustre finishing effort after over 300 days away from the track, but the same cannot be said for Pride of Arras, who faded tamely. Both of them were ideally placed behind the early leader (Program Trading) and although this 12 furlong trip is probably at the limit of Pride of Arras’ range, a finishing speed of 107% meant that this race was run at a fair if not frantic pace. Pride of Arras was quickly beaten and despite getting a dream gap to run through around the inside on the turn, El Cordobes quickly followed. A lengthy Stewards Enquiry was held to look at the interference between the winner, MINARET STATION and Ellis Cordobes, but the result remained unchanged and our data would suggest that was the right call. Although Minaret Station did come across El Cordobes and forced Flavien Prat to snatch up the reins, at that stage, Minaret Station was in the process of running the fastest final 2 furlong splits in the field at a time when El Cordobes was slowing down and shortening his stride. The European favourites may have disappointed, but that shouldn’t detract from a very solid performance from the winner. Here’s what the post-race data can tell us;
As you can see from our post-race summary, Minaret Station ranked first for all of our in-race speed metrics and thoroughly deserved to win after having to come 4 wide around the home turn to make his challenge. This was his first success since landing the American Derby at Churchill Downs in June 2025, but he has been largely consistent so far this year and having finished 2nd to Survie in the G1 Christophe Clement Turf Stakes at Saratoga in August, he certainly wasn’t winning this race out of turn. He really took off for Jose Ortiz in the home straight and the 11.19s that he recorded for the penultimate furlong was the fastest split of the entire race. At an average of 23.77 ft, stretching to a peak of 24.78 ft, Minaret Station was one of the more compact types in the field, but despite having to work hard around the turn, he really quickened when asked to and a top speed of 40.5 mph was a clear best in this lineup.
“A race best run-out speed of 37.36 mph was more than 0.5 mph faster than anything else”
Although behind the fast-finishing Survie at Saratoga, he was involved in a protracted battle for the lead that day with Ole Crazy Bone and the switch to more patient tactics at Belmont Park clearly paid dividends. All of William Walden’s 4-year-olds victories have come when he has come from behind the pace and there is no doubt that a patient ride over this extended trip seems to bring out the best in this son of Instilled Regard. He did cause some minor interference as he veered to his left in the closing stages, but it wasn’t enough to stop either El Cordobes or the runner-up Far Bridge had they been good enough and a race best run-out speed of 37.36 mph was more than 0.5 mph faster than anything else. Comfortably on top at the line, the 4-year-old has now been given the Breeders’ Cup Turf as an end of season target by his trainer.
After what was just a second graded success for William Walden, the trainer said “This horse has been incredible from the start, just ultra-consistent whenever we put him out there. He’s just been the epitome of consistency in the afternoon and in the morning and just couldn’t be prouder of him.” (Source: TDN). Far Bridge won this race in 2024 and so to give him a head start and run him down in this fashion took a career best from Minaret Station, but he remains lightly raced, especially over this distance and so it is not impossible to think that he could give a good account of himself at the Breeders’ Cup at the end of this month. We are still in the process of learning about the new track at Belmont Park and so it is quite hard to put context to this form. A late speed figure of 39 mph does at least rank highly when compared to the other turf races we have seen at the track recently.
There is no doubt that the main players ran below their best and having traveled nicely around the turn before fading, there is at least a visual impression that El Cordobes may improve for the benefit of this run, although his trainer seemed far from certain about his Breeders’ Cup chances in his post-race comments. My overall impression is that this race was slightly below par and certainly below the level of form that Rebel’s Romance reached when winning at Aqueduct 12-months ago. However, as you can see from our summary, Minaret Station recorded one of the fastest late speed figures that we have recorded on the turf track at Belmont Park since it’s reopening and the overall time of 2:28.18 ranks 7th when we look at the last 10 renewals that were run at the New York track, although any comparison with the times before the redevelopment need to be treated carefully.
Minaret Station has earned his shot at the Breeders’ Cup Turf this year and I hope for his connections that he takes his chance, but I also won’t be surprised if he finds that race a step too far.