Big A: Rebel’s Romance brings top credentials to Turf Classic

Rebel’s Romance is the headliner when another chapter will be written Saturday in the storied history of the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The 2:37 p.m. EDT race being renewed at the Belmont at Aqueduct fall meet has showcased the very best of American turf racing for decades while also serving as a key trajectory point toward the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Godolphin’s homebred, two-time Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and $14 million earner, Rebel’s Romance leads a succinct yet salty field of five turf entrants. He enters off a victory in the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1). That followed a respectable third for the second consecutive year in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth (G1), Europe’s top 1 1/2 mile race of the summer.

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One of the world’s most popular racehorses, the 7-year-old gelding’s form holds an international rating of 122, a mere pound below his career peak. On Saturday he seeks his 20th career victory and ninth at the top level. The Charlie Appleby trainee also looks to improve on a disappointing odds-on fourth in this race two years ago as well as become the first internationally trained winner of the race since Aidan O’Brien’s Cape Blanco in 2011.

Frankie Dettori will substitute for regular partner William Buick from post 3. Dettori took up a similar role three years ago for Appleby when guiding Nations Pride to a win in the Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3) over the course and distance.

The pair will be joined by another Godolphin color-bearer in El Cordobés, a $2.3 million purchase as a Tattersalls yearling who long has been highly regarded by connections. A late-blooming sort with four wins from 10 starts, the 4-year-old son of Frankel flexed his ascending form last month when taking the Sword Dancer (G1) at Saratoga. That backed up his eye-catching victory in the Princess of Wales’s (G2) at Newmarket’s famed July meeting and upping his international rating to 116. Splitting horses smartly in the final furlong at the Spa, the emblazoned bay claimed his first Grade 1 by a half-length with Flavien Prat in the saddle, besting Rebel Red and Nations Pride. This time around, Hall of Famer John Velazquez will do the honors from post 1.

“The plan has been to send the pair of them over, and they’re both in good order,” Appleby said. “Obviously, El Cordobés is slightly younger, but both he and Rebel’s Romance come in off the back of nice successes in their last runs. Hopefully that gives us a little confidence that one of them will be picking up the prize.”

Another improving son of Frankel, blueblood Rebel Red has come to handle beautifully for Cherie DeVaux in 2025, winning Churchill Downs’ listed Chorleywood in June two starts before his Sword Dancer effort.

The 4-for-14 5-year-old is a full-brother to St James’s Palace (G1) winner Without Parole and a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victor Tamarkuz, both mile specialists. Rebel Red has found his niche in longer distances and appears to be on the up in a significant way. José Ortizides from post 4 for Eurowest Bloodstock and breeder John Gunther.

“He exited the Sword Dancer in great condition and trained forwardly since then,” DeVaux said. “He has won at shorter distances in lower-level races, but these longer races seem to be what he’s best at. The Breeders’ Cup is definitely the goal for him.”

A mainstay at the top level of turf racing in America for three consecutive seasons, LSU Stables’ Far Bridge defends his title when he breaks from outermost post 5 under Hall of Famer and dual race winner Joel Rosario for trainer Miguel Clément.

The three-time Grade 1-winning son of dual Joe Hirsch winner English Channel exits a sixth in the Sword Dancer. That followed a victory in the Bowling Green (G2), his third graded stakes win of 2025. Far Bridge is 2-for-2 on the Big A green and seeks to turn the tables on Rebel’s Romance, who bested him by 5 3/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last fall. 

“He’s doing well and fortunately can handle any ground,” said Clément, whose late father Christophe won the Joe Hirsch in 2010 with Winchester in addition to Far Bridge last year. “Obviously he didn’t have much racing luck last time, but we are optimistic he can win his second consecutive Joe Hirsch Turf Classic just like his sire did.”

The field is completed by another domestic graded-stakes winner looking to add to his trophy case in Klaravich Stables’ United Nations (G2) victor Redistricting. With Flavien Prat riding from post 2, he tries 1 1/2 miles for the first time.

Trained by five-time Eclipse Award-winner Chad Brown, the 5-year-old son of Kingman has come to life this summer on the Jersey Shore. He won the listed Monmouth before the United Nations, taking each in smart fashion and stepping up from 1 1/8 to 1 3/8 miles. Out of a full-sister to 2011 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey, it would be no surprise if he relished the additional real estate. Brown seeks his fourth win in the race.

“He’s running, but I’m slightly concerned the ground may be soft,” Brown said.

Bank Frenzy and Le Gris are entered for the main-track only.