For the first time since Rockemperor (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) prevailed back in 2021, the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic returns to Belmont Park for the first time, with good ol' Mother Nature expected to make her presence felt.From the Carolinas all the way up through New England residents were bracing for a Nor'easter which is expected to bring coastal flooding to the region. On Long Island, specifically, the weekend forecast calls for a three-in-four chance of precipitation, with predicted rain totals edging towards a half-inch on both Saturday and Sunday.It is somewhat counterintuitive to think that some cut in the ground wouldn't suit the three European runners in the 12-furlong feature, but that may not necessarily be the case, as it would appear on paper that the trio might just prefer the top of the ground.In last year's renewal at Aqueduct, champion Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) gave Godolphin its first Turf Classic winner since Sulamani (Ire) in 2003 and looks to El Cordobes (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) to add to the total. Last year's GI Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes winner was subsequently third to his stablemate last year and filled the same spot in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. In his lone start since, the gelding was hampered when fifth in the G2 H H The Amir Trophy in Qatar Feb. 14, just over four lengths behind the Breeders' Cup Turf-bound Deep Monster (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).“He's very much on a winter program, for sure, and hopefully will do well and go and win this and put himself in the Breeders' Cup picture again,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “If he goes and runs well, we will go down a normal sort of route with him, campaigning through the winter and ultimately looking at Qatar and the Dubai City of Gold and stuff like that. That's why he's not been seen for the summer. Hopefully it'll answer everyone's questions.”Prince of Arras (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) is the unknown commodity amongst the Euros, but trained Ralph Beckett knows how and when to travel his horses and he should be taken seriously. Beaten a combined 70 lengths in the G1 Epsom and Irish Derbys last term, he was gelded and posted what was then a career-best in the G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes. Ineligible for the G1 St Leger having had the ultimate equipment change, he has bounced back to form of late, with a runner-up effort behind next-out G1 Juddmonte International Stakes upsetter Item (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the G2 York Stakes on July 25 and a victory in the G3 September Stakes over the Kempton all-weatherSept. 5, where the legendary jumper Constitution Hill (GB) (Blue Bresil {Fr}) was fourth.“He particularly likes going left-handed on a flat track, so Belmont should suit him really well,” said Beckett, a two-time Breeders' Cup winner. “I always try to take the horses we think will travel best to America and I think that's definitely the case with him.”Fort George (GB) (Territories {Ire}) makes his third straight start on these shores and though he is still in search of a first trip to the winner's circle, has certainly not disgraced himself. Outfinished in a paceless renewal of the GII Bowling Green Stakes at Saratoga July 11, the Hay colorbearer came from the tail to be third to Tiffany (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) and last year's Turf bomb Ethical Diamond (Ire) (Awtaad {Ire}) in the GII Kentucky Turf Cup Sept. 5.Far Bridge (English Channel), who denied War Like Goddess (English Channel) a third straight Turf Classic in 2024, looks the best of the home team as he faces the starter for the first time since prevailing by a neck in the GIII Pan American Stakes on Florida Derby day Mar. 29. With Flavien Prat deserting for El Cordobes, Far Bridge, who has winning form in easy ground, has the services of John Velazquez for the first time. Sons and daughters of the late English Channel–himself a two-time winner of the Turf Classic–have won this five times since 2018. @EquinealTDNKathynmarissa Tough To Go Past in Flower BowlTrainer Chad Brown has sent out the winner of the GII Flower Bowl Stakes–a 'Win and You're In' qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland on Oct. 31–no fewer than eight times, including five of the last seven runnings over the Belmont Park 10 furlongs. The last five renewals were held over 11 panels at Saratoga, two of which were won by Brown runners.Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah) won three of her 10 outings under the care of Rick Dutrow, Jr. but, since joining the Brown barn a little more than a year ago, has had her picture taken three times in four starts.Kathynmarissa | Janet NapolitanoHaving claimed the scalp of her ex-stablemate and reigning Filly & Mare Turf heroine Gezora (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the GIII Modesty Stakes on Kentucky Oaks day May 1, the bay was an alibi-free third in the GI New York Stakes at Saratoga June 5, but bounced back to take the July 18 GI Diana Stakes in underfoot conditions similar to what she might encounter on Saturday.Now with Bill Mott, Gezora is still struggling to regain the winning thread. She had run her race fully three furlongs from home and was a distant eighth when favored in the New York and she was never truly a factor in hte GII Glens Falls Stakes Aug. 2, finishing six lengths adrift of subsequent GI Sword Dancer heroine Survie (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}).Bettors were a bit leery of Sunlit Uplands (Ire) (Sands of Mali {Fr}) heading into the Aug. 22 GII Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga, as she was exiting a victory in German Group 3 company. But she sat a trip handy-enough to a moderate pace and was just outfinished by front-running And One More Time (Omaha Beach) at nearly 10-1. She'll get more ground to deal with and her connections are bullish on her chances.“We've been very happy with her since the Ballston Spa,” trainer Stuart Williams said. “She came out of the race in great form, and we shipped her down to Belmont and picked out the Flower Bowl for her to run in as her next race. We're very pleased with how she's been training at Belmont and we're very much looking forward to seeing her run.” @EquinealTDNWide Open Vosburgh With Breeders' Cup Sprint Berth On The LineA field of 10 assembles Saturday at Belmont Park for the GIII Vosburgh Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' race for next month's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland.Of those, only a single runner has ever entered a Breeders' Cup race, with that honor falling to Contrary Thinking (Into Mischief) who paced the field in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic for his then-stablemate Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) before easing home last of nine at Del Mar. After selling to new connections via the Fasig-Tipton Digital platform in May for $130,000, trainer Amelia Green saddled him to a win at Saratoga Aug. 14 and two second-place finishes upstate earlier in the summer.“I'm happy for him and happy for the owners,” Green said. “He got back into the winner's circle and is proving that he's a nice racehorse.”Green also sends out New York-bred Doc Sullivan (Solomini), another new addition to her barn this summer, who ran fourth in this race last year and enters off a pair of seconds at Saratoga.The lightly-raced 5-year-old Senior Officer (Into Mischief) and T Kraft (Connect) shared dead-head honors for second behind Hymn (McKinzie) in the GI Forego Stakes Aug. 29, while Crazy Mason (Coal Front), one of the more experienced runners at this level in the field and third in this race last year, looks to improve in 2026 off a close fourth in the Forego. He was also third to Sprint hopeful T O Elvis (Volatile) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes May 2.California-shipper Moonlight (Audible), another with a recent barn change over the summer after selling for $250,000 at the Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale, outran odds of 47-1 to be third in the GI Bing Crosby at Del Mar July 25 in his first start for Peter Miller and ships in off a second in the GII Pat O' Brien Stakes Aug. 29.The group also features El Grande O (Take Charge Indy), a new winner for Ilkay Kantarmaci who claimed him off of Linda Rice Sept. 2; another runner for Kantarmaci in Buttah (Leofric); Forego sixth Bring the Smoke (Preservationist), victorious in the GIII Maryland Sprint Stakes this past spring; and Rick Dutrow's Ignite the Light (Into Mischief) who wheels back off just a week's rest from his head-second in last Saturday's Stable Recovery Stakes at Parx.R Disaster Looks To Reset In Gallant Bloom DefenseTrainer Saffie Joseph Jr. send outs a pair in Saturday's GII Gallant Bloom Stakes to open the graded action at Belmont Park.GI Derby City Distaff winner R Disaster (Awesome Slew) had the tables turned on her in a big way last time out in the GI Ballerina Stakes by 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke). Her sixth-place finish Aug. 29 at Saratoga was the 5-year-old's first off-the-board effort in her entire career spanning 17 starts and she'll look to rebound in the Gallant Bloom, a race she won last year in gate-to-wire fashion. She'll face a field that includes two of her Ballerina foes, though notably not Ways and Means.R Disaster | Coady MediaOne of the those fillies is her stablemate Paradise City (McKinzie) who finished just one spot ahead of R Disaster in fifth in that Ballerina and is still looking for her first graded stakes win after winning the Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows back in July.The other, Beauty Reigns (Into Mischief), picked up Grade-I black type in that Ballerina, finishing a distant third for Bill Mott at 12-1 odds. It was her second try at top-level company and her second on-the-board finish, having run third in last year's Test Stakes, something Mott is looking to improve upon.“She's Grade I-placed twice, but she's not a stakes winner yet,” Mott said. “She's a hard-knocking filly. My job is to try to get a stakes win from her. Whether it is a Grade II or III or whatever it is, that's my job.”Don Alberto homebred and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Senza Parole (Gun Runner), fifth in this race last year behind R Disaster, hasn't had much luck in graded stakes company but did have a good Saratoga meet this summer, finishing third to Ways and Means in the GII Bed O' Roses Stakes and exiting a popular win in allowance ranks over a muddy six furlongs Sept. 2 for Chad Brown.Rounding out the field of six is New York-bred Munnings Express (Munnings) who comes out of a victory in the state-bred Johnstone Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 5 for Linda Rice; and Queen Jubilee (Authentic) who came off a seven-month absence for Whit Beckman with an 8 1/2-length romp at Colonial Downs Aug. 7 and makes her stakes debut here.Goodwood Offers First 'Class-ic' Ticket For OneThe Santa Anita Park Autumn meet at 'The Great Race Place' is set to get underway and the winner of Saturday's signature race, the GI Goodwood Stakes, will earn themselves a 'Win and You're In' ticket to the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland next month.The Goodwood field includes last year's champ Nevada Beach (Omaha Beach), who was well-beaten behind Japanese Horse of the Year Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}) and retired stablemate Nysos (Nyquist) in the G1 Saudi Cup back in February.The Bob Baffert trainee has posted a strong set of works since mid-June for owners Pegram, Watson and Weltman. The 4-year-old colt is a deserving favorite and will look to earn a spot in the Breeders' Cup starting gate once again. At Del Mar in the Classic, Nevada Beach finished seventh behind Forever Young.Nevada Beach looks to defend his Goodwood | BenoitCalumet homebred Original Sin (Curlin) will look to swipe Nevada Beach's passage to the Bluegrass. The Brendan Walsh trainee won the GIII Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs May 30 before finishing a distant runner-up to Knightsbridge (Nyquist) in the GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar Aug. 22.When it comes to putting up strong Beyer figures at the optional claiming and allowance levels, McAfee (Cloud Computing) and Caldera (Liam's Map) both ran 98 at Saratoga and Colonial Downs, respectively. McAfee, the 4-year-old half-brother to champion and Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna), was multiple graded stakes placed under the care of Rick Dutrow, Jr. and romped in Saratoga allowance company for trainer George Weaver going this distance at Saratoga July 3. My Racehorse's Caldera has not lost since coming over to Saffie Joseph's barn, having previously been trained by D. Wayne Lukas. A tough test awaits them here.The other 'Win and You're In' race on the table opening weekend–with entry into the GI FanDuel Mile–is the GII City of Hope Mile Stakes.The turf horse to beat is King of Gosford (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}), who has five scores out of nine over the local course for trainer Phil D'Amato. The 5-year-old has a Grade I win on his resume and his last two races were wins–Wickerr Stakes July 19 and GII Del Mar Mile Aug. 22.Other Del Mar Mile alums who return for the City of Hope include runner-up Detain (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), third-place finisher El Potente (Temple City) and fourth-place runner Cabo Spirit (Pioneerof the Nile).Rounding out the graded action on the Santa Anita card are the GII Eddie D Stakes, the GII John Henry Turf Championship Stakes and the GIII John C. Harris Stakes.Sorrento Sky (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}) certainly ran better than his 7-1 odds when he won the GII Green Flash Handicap at Del Mar Aug. 22. The 5-year-old will probably be the favorite when the field makes its way up the hill, but D'Amato stablemate Later Than Planned (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}), who adds blinkers, will offer much better value.Atitlan (The Factor) might end up being the shortest price of the day in the John Henry. Trained by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella–who has won this event on eight occasions–the experienced turf star was a neck short to the excellent Test Score (Lookin At Lucky) in the GII Del Mar Handicap last month.Finally, Donald Dizney homebred Little Opal (Caravaggio) will look to keep her perfect record intact for trainer Doug O'Neill as she steps up against fellow 3-year-old fillies in the John C. Harris. @campbellparlayBanishing Returns in Churchill's Lukas Classic, Bishops Bay Heads Ack AckThe spectre of Japanese Horse of the Year Forever Young (Jpn) in last week's GI Jockey Club Gold Cup cemented the decision to send Banishing (Ghostzapper) to Churchill Downs for the GII Lukas Classic, named after the Hall of Fame horseman who passed away last year. And while travel logistics was offered as the main reason in also rerouting Chunk Of Gold (Preservationist), the presence of last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner in Belmont's marquee test for older horses had to have also factored in the decision to remain in Kentucky.Banishing, who won last season's nine-furlong Charles Town Classic and was third behind Mystik Dan (Goldencents) and Disarm (Gun Runner) in the 2025 renewal of this event, kicked off 2026 with a pair of forgettable races–sixth in the GI Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream and an eighth to Forever Young in the G1 Saudi Cup in February.Cut back to a furlong for the G2 Godolphin Mile on Mar. 28, he rebounded to score by 2 1/2 lengths before failing to finish in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes over seven furlongs on May 2. Regaining some of his earlier form with the addition of Francisco Arrieta, the 6-year-old defeated next-out winner Dreaminblue (Street Boss) in the 6 1/2-furlong Jeff Hall Memorial at Ellis on July 18 before finishing second while trying t defend his title in the Charles Town Classic on Aug. 28.Last year's GIII West Virginia Derby winner, Chunk of Gold has proven consistent of late, hitting the board in all seven of his most recent starts. A close third to Magnitude (Not This Time) in the GII Clark Stakes here last November, the gray was runner-up to This Is Uscar (Oscar Performance) going 8 1/2 furlongs while facing optional claiming company at Churchill in June. He most recently came up a neck short of Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) in the GIII Phillip Iselin Stakes at Monmouth on Aug. 15 while earning a career-best 105 Beyer and goes over the $1-million mark in career earnings with a top-three finish here.The milers also get their day in the GIII Ack Ack on Churchill's Saturday card. Bishops Bay has been a model of consistency, winning or finishing second in 15 of 17 lifetime starts. Victorious in four graded stakes last season, including the GIII Westchester, Momouth's GIII Salvator Mile and the GIII Forty Niner Stakes at the Big A, the bay brought $1.3 million from Saudi-based KAS Stables to top the horses of racing age section at Keeneland last November. Following that purchase, the Brad Cox trainee won the GII Cigar Mile in December before coming home a sound fourth in the Saudi Cup in February.Bishops Bay was runner-up to Antiquarian in this year's GIII Westchester Stakes on May 3, he was a nose behind the reopposing East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) in the Salvator Mile before turning the tables to win the Iselin in August, with East Avenue no better than fourth .The sole Grade I winner in the field, East Avenue–who took the GI Breeders' Futurity at two–didn't really seem to take the next step up at three, although he did win the GIII Matt Winn and finished runner-up in the GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes.This season has been on-again, and off-again for the Godolphin runner, who has hit the board in two of four starts, including a second-place finish in the GIII Oaklawn Mile in March. He was last seen finishing fourth–beaten 9 1/4 lengths–in the Iselin.-–CBossTDNBishops Bay | Sarah AndrewThe post Turf Classic Returns To Belmont Under Dodgy Weather Scenario appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.