Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is rescheduled for next Saturday

Following New York State Gaming Commission approval, the New York Racing Association has moved the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic from Sunday to next Saturday at Aqueduct.

Friday’s 11-race Aqueduct card was cancelled due to a powerful coastal storm causing widespread flooding and hazardous conditions throughout New York City and Long Island. In addition to Friday’s cancellation, NYRA moved Saturday’s 11-race card to Sunday and pushed Sunday’s 10-race program to Wednesday.

By moving the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, a 1 1/2-mile inner turf race for 3-year-olds and up, Sunday’s program will now feature 10 races, including a trio of Grade 2 events over the main track in the $400,000 Woodward, $250,000 Gallant Bloom and the $250,000 Vosburgh, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, initially slated as Race 6 on the 11-race card, will not be replaced and will result in the cancellation of the Pick 3 and middle Pick 5 beginning in Race 4; as well as the daily double, Pick 3 and middle Pick 4 beginning in Race 5. All wagers beginning in Race 6 are cancelled. First post on Sunday’s revised 10-race program is 12:05 p.m. EDT.

The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic will be re-drawn with entries to be taken on Wednesday, joining a stacked stakes card led by two win and you're in qualifiers at one mile for juveniles. The $500,000 Champagne (G1) offers a bid to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while the $400,000 Frizette (G1) earns its winner a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

The Saturday, October 7 card is supported by the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint (G3), the $200,000 Waya (G3) and the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational (G3).

The 10-race card originally scheduled for Sunday was moved in its entirety to Wednesday with a first post time of 1:05 p.m. EDT. Wednesday’s action is co-headlined by a pair of win and you're in qualifiers for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The $200,000 Pilgrim (G2) awards a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf while the $200,000 Miss Grillo (G2) for fillies awards a berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Friday’s co-featured Ashley T. Cole was moved to Friday, October 6 as part of a card that also offers the $135,000 Gio Ponti. The Noble Damsel (G3) was moved to Sunday, October 8. The Ashley T. Cole and Noble Damsel will be re-drawn Sunday and Thursday, respectively.

The Noble Damsel will join a Sunday, October 8 card that includes the final win and you're in event of the meet with the $150,000 Futurity (G3) for juveniles sprinting six furlongs on the lawn. The winner of the Futurity secures a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. That card also includes the $250,000 Beldame (G2) and the $150,000 Matron (G3).