IT’S the last big weekend of racing stateside until the Breeders’ Cup and there are many top contenders in action on both coasts.

Charlie Appleby is double-handed as he bids for more American success in the Aqueduct feature tonight, the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (7.37pm).

Stable stalwart Rebel’s Romance (Frankie Dettori) is joined by El Cordobes (John Velazquez) in a small field for the feature race.

Rebel’s Romance was the Champion Male Turf Horse last season in a division that has few newcomers this season.

He was only fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on yielding ground two years ago, so decent ground is a requirement.

Rebel’s Romance’s victories this year came in Qatar’s Amir Trophy, Yorkshire Cup, Hardwicke Stakes and the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin. He missed his last entry in Germany due to soft ground.

Stablemate El Cordobes could progress further after beating Rebel Red and Nations Pride on his US debut in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga in August.

That victory came on the back of a win in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket in July, beating the Grade 3 Nashville Derby winner Wimbledon Hawkeye.

Charlie Appleby said this week: “Rebel’s Romance was beaten in this race a couple of years ago, when the rain came and the ground went against him, and we are hoping for a decent surface. He looks in great nick and a repeat of any of his performances this year should be good enough to see him win.

“We felt El Cordobes deserved a chance against some slightly more established 12-furlong horses following his Sword Dancer win.”

Far Bridge is the leading US grass horse and usually competitive. He tired in the Sword Dancer, finishing a distant sixth, but may have raced too close to a strong pace. He won last year’s Joe Hirsch on good ground.

SELECTION: El Cordobes

Next best: Rebel’s Romance

Also on the card, the Woodward Stakes (8.05pm) was once one of the top older horse races in the US, but is now downgraded to a Grade 2. It is likely to have a very small field, perhaps just three runners.

Locked brings the best overall form at Grade 1 level. He won last season’s Grade 1 Cigar Mile and the Santa Anita Handicap in March.

But his last run saw him only third, over six lengths behind Phileas Fogg in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes over 10 furlongs at Saratoga in July.

Phileas Fogg was involved in the interference that led to him being disqualified from second in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes last time. This looks a good chance for compensation.

Churchill Downs

The 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan returns to dirt after a fourth in the Arlington Million, in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic (10.29pm). Dubai World Cup winner Hit Show is among his six rivals and should improve from his listed win last time.

Santa Anita

At Santa Anita, Godolphin’s First Mission travels to Southern California for the first time as he searches for a Grade 1 success in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes.

He gained another impressive win in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April before producing his best effort at Churchill Downs as he chased home Mindframe and Sierra Leone in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes. John Sheriffs’ Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Full Serrano is the big danger. He returned with an allowance win at the beginning of the month and looks primed for a big effort. Bob Baffert runs three, but may have to settle for minor placings.

Also on the card, Johannes is short odds on the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes. Tim Yakteen’s colt suffered his only defeat last season when second in the Breeders’ Cup Mile but he must bounce back from a ninth in the Grade 1 Fourstardave Stakes at Saratoga. Consistent Grade 1 performer Cabo Spirit will keep him honest.

Sunday’s highlight is the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies. Jeff Mullins’ Sugar Fish will try to become the first back-to-back winner since Beholder, while Baffert’s unbeaten favourite Cavalieri and Richi ran first and second in this year’s Grade 1 Beholder Mile Stakes.