OXO Equine’s Kentucky homebred Minaret Station rallied stoutly through the lane to win the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1).
Trained by Will Walden and piloted by Jose Ortiz, the 4-year-old Instilled Regard colt was traveling best of all in the final 70 yards with an outside rush. Minaret Station showed a good turn-of-foot inside the final furlong but came in under right-handed urging, yet still found enough to score in a final time of 2:28.18 for 1 1/2 miles.
“I think I did come over a little bit, I won’t say I didn’t,” Ortiz said. “I told the stewards that I thought I bothered the Godolphin horse [El Cordobes (IRE)] a little bit. Flavien [Prat] had to take a little hold. But at the point when I bothered him, he was going to already be third. He [Minaret Station] didn’t cost him any position. I don’t think I bothered Far Bridge at all. It was a very slow pace last time and today he was able to fall behind the speed and relax and I was very happy behind horses,” Ortiz said.
Minaret Station is Making the Grade
Minaret Station made the grade with a deep-closing score in Bourbon S. (G2) in October of 2024 at Keeneland. He followed with a stalking victory last June in the American Derby on June 28 at Churchill Downs in his lone sophomore start.
“This horse has been incredible from the start, just ultra-consistent whenever we put him out there. Obviously, dealt with some issues along the way,” Walden said. “He’s just been the epitome of consistency in the afternoon and in the morning and just couldn’t be prouder of him.”
Walden said Minaret Station will now point to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Oct. 31 at Keeneland. Minaret Station banked $275,000 in victory while improving his record to 9-4-2-2. He is by Instilled Regard out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Sir Prancealot (IRE) mare Beau Recall (IRE).