Grade 1 winner Carrick may face elders in Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Winner of the Grade 1 Secretariat for 3-year-olds, Donegal Racing's standout turf sophomore Carrick is slated to breeze Saturday at Belmont Park as his connections mull the option of running against older horses in next weekend's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, trainer Tom Morley said Friday morning.

A chestnut colt by Giant's Causeway, Carrick won his debut in a maiden claiming race on May 12 at Belmont and followed with a starter allowance victory on June 21. He was third in the Grade 3 Kent in July at Delaware Park, where he bore out late in the stretch to finish 2 ¾ lengths behind Golden Brown, before holding off Analyze It by a neck at odds of 38-1 in the August 11 Secretariat at 1 ¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park.

"The horse is doing very well," said Morley. "He's looked well in all three of his works since the win and following tomorrow's scheduled workout, we'll make a decision of whether or not to enter him in the Joe Hirsch." 

Morley also added 4-year-old New York-bred filly stakes winner La Moneda, who last out won the Yaddo on August 23 at Saratoga, breezed four furlongs in 50.63 seconds Thursday and would next point to a start in either the $200,000 Ticonderoga on Empire Showcase Day Saturday, October 20 or the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia on Sunday, October 21.

"She looked very good," said Morley. "She had a very active summer, so we've managed her with keeping the Ticonderoga or the Athenia in mind for her next start, and we'll make a decision on which race she'll enter the closer we get to each race."