Despite what the toteboard said, the result of the $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) was quite predictable—if you used the right strategy.
Keeping in mind that trainer Chad Brown has the biggest and best collection of turf stars in his powerful stable, siding with Chad over Chad in the exacta of a grade 1 turf stakes was not a far-fetched idea.
Even if the odds were 15-1 and 14-1.
For those that put that insight to use, the return was a relatively big $89.25 exacta for $1 in a small field of seven as the victorious Rockemperor and Serve the King formed an all-Brown 1-2 finish in the Joe Hirsch Oct. 9 at Belmont Park.
"It's a different kind of satisfaction to come over in here with two of the longest shots in the field, in a race we've won before and had success in," Brown said. "It's different to be able to deliver (these results) unexpectedly."
When the favored Gufo tired after taking the lead at the top of stretch and Rockemperor and then Serve the King moved past him, it also put Brown in the enviable position of possibly having four starters and legitimate contenders in the Nov. 6 $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
"You'd have to look at (the Breeders' Cup)," said Brown, who also has Turf candidates in Domestic Spending and Tribhuvan. "We'll see how the figures come back, but I'm not going to make any decisions right now."
The victory was Brown's third in the Joe Hirsch and the mutuel payoff of his latest winner topped the combined total of the other two with 15-1 shot Rockemperor paying $33.20 and easily eclipsing Beach Patrol ($12 in 2017) and Big Blue Kitten ($7 in 2015).
The payoff was hefty, but, except being saddled by Brown, there were reasons for skepticism.
Rockemperor, a son of Holy Roman Emperor owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael Kisber, and Michael Caruso, had just three wins in 19 tries coming into the Joe Hirsch and he would have run in an allowance race instead of Saturday's 1 1/2-mile turf stakes if it filled, which is hardly a vote of confidence heading into a grade 1 stakes.
Brown's pondering of an allowance race came after Rockemperor was hard to handle and rank when he finished fourth in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) and the four-time Eclipse Award winner was ready to take off the 5-year-old's blinkers and use a new bit.
When that option disappeared, owner Sol Kumin of Madaket Stables recommended trying the Joe Hirsch and the rest is the makings of a Brown-Brown exacta.
"It went our way. He wound up here," Brown said. "I have to give credit to Sol Kumin for mentioning it … and when it was suggested to me I didn't hesitate because the horse had been training so well and I've been really impressed with him in the morning. He's always a good work horse."
For Kumin and the rest of the ownership group, the victory was an uplifting experience after living through seven second- or third-place finishes in grade 1 or 2 stakes since buying Rockemperor from European connections and bringing him to the United States in 2019.
"It felt great," Kumin said. "He ran so well in his first race for us off the plane (third in the 2019 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes, G1T) and since then he was close, close, close. We've been patient and Chad and his team did a great job with him. I think we'll take a shot at the Breeders' Cup and give him some time off and bring him back next year."
Bred in Ireland by Haras du Mezeray out of the Muhtathir mare Motivation, Rockemperor is his dam's second of five foals and lone stakes winner.
A winner by two lengths under jockey Javier Castellano, he was timed in 2:25.61 for 1 1/2 miles over firm turf. His career earnings increased to $914,404.
"I'm so proud of the horse. He's been a bridesmaid so many times," Brown said. "He has moved to the top of the list of one of the most deserving horses in our barn to win a grade 1. He finally got it done."
Unlike Rockemperor, Peter Brant's Serve the King had the Joe Hirsch circled on his calendar since a solid win in the Aug. 25 John's Call Stakes at 1 5/8 miles. The son of Kingman staged a nice rally to move up from sixth at the quarter pole to take second.
He was 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Otter Bend Stables' Gufo, who was the 9-5 favorite off a victory in the Sword Dancer.
Trainer Christophe Clement said he wanted to review tapes of the race before commenting on the son of Declaration of War's performance and Breeders' Cup status.
Defending champion Channel Maker ran fourth in the Joe Hirsch. Arklow, Japan, and Cross Border completed the order of finish.
