Oscar Performance Ready for Hirsch

Oscar Performance | Four Footed Fotos

Trainer Brian Lynch will be looking to have some questions answered when Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) goes postward in Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

“We're really happy with the way he's coming into the race,” Lynch said. “We'll answer the questions of 'Can he get the mile and a half and will he be competitive against older horses?' We'll be able to tick off a couple of boxes after this one.”

Oscar Performance is coming off a pair of 10-furlong Grade I victories versus fellow sophomores; he captured the July 8 GI Belmont Derby and the Aug. 12 GI Secretariat S.

The Amerman homebred completed preparations for the Joe Hirsch with a five-furlong work in 1:01.66 around the dogs on Belmont's inner turf course Sunday.

“He had a good, sharp work the week before (5fT, :59.42) and today we just gave him a comfortable five-eighths and he did it very nicely,” Lynch said.

Oscar Performance, last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner, will be looking for his fourth straight win Saturday. Lynch said he has noticed a marked mental improvement in his charge.

“I've seen the maturity in race-day antics,” Lynch said. “When he was younger, he could get a little hot and could be a bit flighty in the post parade. Now, he takes it all in stride and has gotten a lot more professional. I've seen a lot of seasoning coming his way and maturing into a nice, late 3-year-old, and I think he's ready to take on older horses.”

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.