Sadler's Joy remains on target for Breeders' Cup Turf

Woodslane Farm's Grade 1 Sword Dancer winner Sadler's Joy is in fine order following his fourth-place finish in Saturday's Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and remains on target for the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, trainer Tom Albertrani said Sunday morning at Belmont. 

In the Joe Hirsch, the 4-year-old homebred by Kitten's Joy broke last under Julien Leparoux in the field of 11 and made a seven-wide move into the stretch to rally for fourth, beaten just over a length for second. The race was his first off-the-board finish since July of 2016.

"He got off a little slow and he was a little further back than we probably needed to be, he had a lot to make up. He made a nice run but he was still far back. Julien thought maybe the ground wasn't to his liking, so a couple of things that might have gone on there, but I thought he ran well. It still keeps us in the race at the Breeders' Cup."

"The winner won easy, but we were still right there for second, he just had a lot to make up. He was 13 lengths or so back when they were turning for home. But, it's all good. He came out great. We'll see how he is when he goes back to the track. Just kind of see what his energy level is like and we'll make a plan."

Albertrani said Sadler's Joy, who picked up an all-fees-paid berth into the Turf on November 4 at Del Mar with his half-length win over Money Multiplier in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, will train at Belmont before shipping to Southern California on October 29.