by Tim Nichols

Grand Couturier (GB) unleashed a powerful turn of foot in early stretch en route to a visually impressive 10 1/4-length romp on Saturday in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

Grand Couturier completed the 1 1/2 miles on yielding turf in 2:34.84 for his second straight Grade 1 win. Marc Keller’s five-year-old Grand Lodge horse entered off a two-length win in the Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (G1) on August 16 at Saratoga Race Course.

Trainer Bobby Ribaudo said his horse will go to the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park. Grand Couturier finished sixth in the 2007 John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Presious Passion set the pace through six furlongs in 1:16.84 and a mile in 1:42.35 while Grand Couturier was rated off the pace by jockey Alan Garcia.

Strike a Deal and Proudinsky (Ger) overtook the fading Presious Passion at the quarter pole while Grand Couturier maintained a relaxed rhythm on the turn.

Garcia gave Grand Couturier his cue in early stretch, and he responded with a furious charge to surge past four rivals for the lead.

“My horse just loved the soft course,” Garcia said. “I just asked him for run on the far turn and then he just took off. He’s gotten really good.”

Runner-up Interpatation, who bumped with Grand Couturier along the backstretch, finished a nose in front of Summer Patriot. A claim of foul was lodged against Grand Couturier by Interpatation’s jockey Kent Desormeaux but stewards did not alter the order of finish.

Out of the Sadler’s Wells mare Lady Elgar (Ire), Grand Couturier improved to seven wins in 17 starts and increased his earnings to $1,220,100.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Tim Nichols is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor