By Pat McKenna – NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Following New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) approval, the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has moved the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic from Sunday to next Saturday, October 7, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
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 marathon 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. Eastern.
The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic will be re-drawn with entries to be taken on Wednesday, joining a stacked stakes card led by two Grade 1 “Win and You’re In” qualifiers at one-mile for juveniles in the $500,000 Champagne [Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile] and $400,000 Frizette [Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies].
The Saturday, October 7 card is supported by the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint; the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya; and the Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational.
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. Wednesday’s action is co-headlined by a pair of Grade 2 “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for juveniles at 1 1/16 miles on turf. The $200,000 Pilgrim awards a berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf while the $200,000 Miss Grillo for fillies awards a berth to the Grade 1 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, while the Grade 3 Noble Damsel 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 lucrative Sunday, October 8 card that includes the final “Win and You’re In” event of the meet with the Grade 3, $150,000 Futurity for juveniles sprinting six furlongs on the lawn in hopes of securing a spot in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Also featured are the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame and the Grade 3, $150,000 Matron.
