Convento Viejo's Robert Bruce (Chi) (Fast Company {Ire}) more than proved his mettle in his native land last year, winning all six of his starts ranging from distances between six furlongs and 1 1/2 miles, including four Group 1 scores. That earned him a move to the United States and Chad Brown's barn, where he has continued his winning ways, with one exception. He'll return to the site of that lone defeat as the favorite in Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park.
Making his American debut at Big Sandy May 5, the 4-year-old rallied to capture the GIII Fort Marcy S. before finishing sixth, albeit beaten just one length, in the GI Manhattan S. June 9. Shipped west for the GI Arlington Million Aug. 11, he was a half-length victor over stablemate Almanaar (Dubawi {Ire}) to run his record to eight wins in nine starts. The dark bay has drilled five times in the interim, capped by a five-furlong spin over the local turf in 1:01 flat (2/10) Sept. 23.
The second through sixth finishers in the Aug. 25 GI Sword Dancer Invitational return to challenge the rested favorite. Runner-up Channel Maker (English Channel) dead-heated for the win in the GII Bowling Green S. prior to that, while third finisher Spring Quality (Quality Road) pulled off an 18-1 upset in the aforementioned Manhattan in his previous try.
A pair of wild cards inject some intrigue into the party of mostly familiar faces in the older-male turf division. Carrick (Giant's Causeway) was available for $40,000 debuting at this oval May 12, he repeated in a local starter allowance June 21 before running third in the GIII Kent S. July 14 at Delaware. Sent to Arlington, the chestnut pulled off a 38-1 stunner in the GI Secretariat S. last out on the Million undercard.
Teodoro (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ships in from Great Britain for the Thomas Dascombe barn. Adding Lasix after a 16th-place run in the Sky Bet Ebor Handicap S. last out Aug. 25 at York, the gelding is competitive off of his race two back, a 3 1/4-length upset in the G3 Smarkets Rose of Lancaster S. at Haydock. He acclimated to his surroundings with a bullet five-furlong work on the local main track in 1:00 2/5 (1/4) Sept. 27.
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