b'racingCarrick in the Secretariat Stakes, and Robert Bruce in the Arlington Million XXXVI Stakes (G1T). None could complete a dou-ble, much less a hat trick.Glorious Empire led all the way to victory in the Sword Dancer with Channel Maker second. Hi Happy won the Man o War nicole MArieStakes in May, then missed in five subsequent starts. Spring Quality took the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes in June, then was 0-for-3 thereafter. Convento Viejos Robert Bruce wins the Arlington Million. What about Stormy Liberal, though? Yes, the 6-year-old won four straight races to wind up his season. But his sole grade 1 win of 2018 was the Breeders Cup Turfnyra Creates tUrF Sprint while the others were well down the class ladder. Its case in point for a topsy-turvy year that Stormy Liberalstriple seriescredentials were enough to land him thet The Turf Trinity is designed to emulate Eclipse Award for champion turf malethe first time that honor has gone to a sprinter. Expert Eye and Glorious EmpireThe New York Racing Association has were the other finalists. created the Turf Trinity and Turf Tiarathe American dirt classics. The three-race $3 By the end of the year, it became prettyas part of the 2019 Turf Triple Series,million series complements the schedule with clear that the North American-based turfoffering $5.25 million in purse money forno overlap of the American Triple Crown rac-runners, while providing some entertainingsophomores over three legs at Belmontes while also providing international runners competition among themselves, werentPark and Saratoga Race Course. an opportunity to race against 3-year-olds nearly as competitive on an internationalThe Turf Triple Series will showcaselater into the summer, said Martin Panza, level. To wit: the best 3-year-old turf runners in theNYRAs senior vice president of racing Desert Encounter, found wanting incountry with the first legs slated for Sat- operations.group events in England, swooped in to winurday, July 6 as part of the Stars & StripesThe 3-year-old fillies will start their path the Pattison Canadian International StakesFestival to be broadcast live nationwidetoward the Turf Tiara with the grade 1, (G1T) at Woodbine Oct. 13. on NBC. $750,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational, at 1Expert Eye shipped in from England toThe Turf Trinity, for 3-year-olds, kicksmiles on the Belmont turf as part of the July 6 win the Breeders Cup Mile (G1T). off July 6 with the grade 1, $1 millionStars & Stripes Festival, and it will be broad- And then there was the Longines Breed- Belmont Derby Invitational, contested atcast live on NBC.ers Cup Turf (G1T). 1 miles on the Belmont turf.The Turf Tiara continues Friday, Aug. 2 The winners of the Sword Dancer,The second jewel of the Turf Trinity,at Saratoga Race Course with the inaugural Kentucky Turf Cup, Turf Classic Invitational,the inaugural $1 million Saratoga Derby,$750,000 Saratoga Oaks, held at 1 316miles on Man o War, and Arlington Million, amongwill be contested at 1 316miles on thethe Saratoga lawn and broadcast live nation-others, lined up to defend American honorSaratoga green on Sunday, Aug. 4 andally on FS2, kicking off Whitney weekend on the soggy Churchill Downs turf. Nor- featured live on FS1.festivities.mally, that would be a formidable team. But,The Turf Trinity reaches its conclusionThe final jewel of the Turf Tiara, the inau-midway down the stretch, the only issue wasSaturday, Sept. 7 at beautiful Belmontgural $750,000 Jockey Club Oaks slated for whether Irelands Magical could run downPark with the inaugural edition of the $1Sept. 7 at Belmont Park, will be contested at dual Qatar Prix de lArc de Triomphe (G1)million Jockey Club Derby to be aired1 38miles on the turf and aired live on NBC as winner Enable. live across the country on NBC. part of an action-packed weekend of racing to Enable, of course, won by three quartersAt 1 miles on the Belmont turf, theraise the curtain on the Belmont fall meet.of a length. The next-closest was Sadlersfirst-ever $1 million Jockey Club DerbyThe Turf Tiara, a three-race $2,250,000 Joy, nine futile lengths behind Magical. Andwill be a test of stamina as the countrysseries, will shadow the colt division, provid-Frankie Dettori, aboard Enable, knew it allbest 3-year-old turf stars look to captureing a well-defined pattern of races highlight-along, even though the filly had endured anthe final jewel of the Turf Trinity, whiching future turf stars while serving as a test of injury-plagued season of only two previousoffers a Win and Youre In berth to thetheir speed, versatility, and endurance, said starts. grade 1 Breeders Cup Turf. Panza.It turned out to be a great horse race, Dettori said in Hong Kong in December 42 06_TurfRacing_use.indd 42 3/21/19 2:42 PM'