Zhukova brings international flair to Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
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Photo:
Chelsea Durand
Top Irish trainer Dermot Weld will bring some international flair to the Belmont Fall Championship Meet with a pair of nominees for the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, topped by John D. Murrell's Zhukova.
Zhukova, a 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Fastnet Rock, will return to the site of her biggest career win to date, when she got the best of her male competition and drew off to a six-length victory in the Grade 1 Man o' War on May 13.
She is also expected to be among the nominees for the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl on Sunday, October 8, which will be released later Sunday.
Since the Man o' War, Zhukova finished fourth against fillies and mares in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh in July and eighth of 10 against open company in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes on September 9 at Leopardstown.
Scheduled to arrive from Europe on Tuesday afternoon, Zhukova will be joined on the flight by Frank Gillespie's Irish Group 1 winner The Grey Gatsby, who is also nominated for the Joe Hirsch.
Zhukova, a 5-year-old Irish-bred mare by Fastnet Rock, will return to the site of her biggest career win to date, when she got the best of her male competition and drew off to a six-length victory in the Grade 1 Man o' War on May 13.
She is also expected to be among the nominees for the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl on Sunday, October 8, which will be released later Sunday.
Since the Man o' War, Zhukova finished fourth against fillies and mares in the Group 1 Pretty Polly at the Curragh in July and eighth of 10 against open company in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes on September 9 at Leopardstown.
Scheduled to arrive from Europe on Tuesday afternoon, Zhukova will be joined on the flight by Frank Gillespie's Irish Group 1 winner The Grey Gatsby, who is also nominated for the Joe Hirsch.
Saturday, September 30, 2017:
Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic: "Win and You're In" Longines Breeders' Cup Turf division
Probable: Beach Patrol (Chad Brown); Channel Maker (Bill Mott); Erupt (Graham Motion); Fanciful Angel (C. Brown); Highland Sky (Barclay Tagg); Hunter O'Riley (Jimmy Toner); Money Multiplier (C. Brown); Oscar Performance (Brian Lynch); Sadler's Joy (Tom Albertrani)
Possible: The Grey Gatsby (Dermot Weld); Zhukova (Weld)
Grade 1, $400,000 Beldame:
Probable: Elate (Mott); Eskenformoney (Pletcher); Money'soncharlotte (Kelly Breen); Verve's Tale (Tagg)
Possible: Bishop's Pond (Jason Servis); Line of Best Fit (Kieron Magee); Martini Glass (Keith Nations)
Grade 1, $350,000 Vosburgh: "Win and You're In" TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint division
Probable: El Deal (Jorge Navarro); Green Gratto (Gaston Grant); Mr. Crow (Pletcher); Stallwalkin' Dude (David Jacobson); Takaful (Kiaran McLaughlin); Weekend Hideaway (Phil Serpe)
Possible: Favorite Tale (Guadalupe Preciado)
Grade 3, $200,000 Pilgrim:
Probable: Desert Stone (Rudy Rodriguez); Evaluator (Michael Dilger); Maraud (Pletcher); Morrison (Joe Sharp); Phone Funky Munky (David Donk)
Possible: Seabhac (Pletcher); Stolen Pistol (Sharp); Voting Control (C. Brown)
Sunday, October 1, 2017:
Grade 3, $200,000 Miss Grillo:
Probable: Africa (C. Brown); Bramble Queen (Michael Dini); Codrington (Donk); Life Time Citizen (Serpe); Orbolution (Pletcher); Significant Form (C. Brown); Thewayiam (Motion)
Possible: Southampton Way (Horacio DePaz)
$200,000 Temperence Hill Invitational:
Probable: Archanova (Ian Wilkes); Madefromlucky (Pletcher); Scuba (Brendan Walsh); Testosterstone (Gary Sciacca)
Possible: Turco Bravo (David Cannizzo)
Source: NYRA Communications
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