Unbeaten Shakespeare headlines an intriguing field of eight slated to line up for the $750,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The 1 ½-mile grass marathon finds several young guns set to challenge a pair of veteran warriors.

Shakespeare, a four-year-old Theatrical (Ire) colt who is perfect in four career starts, comes off a powerful victory in his graded stakes debut in the Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) on September 11.

In that 1 1/8-mile contest, Shakespeare responded brilliantly for jockey Jerry Bailey while charging wide around the leaders on the turn and cruising home to an impressive 3 ¾-length victory.

Bailey, who again will be in the irons for trainer Bill Mott, was properly impressed.

"I think he is adaptable to about anything," the Racing Hall of Fame rider said.

James Scatuorchio's three-year-old English Channel, the lone sophomore in the field, was a sensation at the recent Colonial Downs meeting. He comfortably won both the Colonial Cup Turf Stakes on June 25 and the Virginia Derby (G3) on July 16, the first two legs of the Grand Slam of Grass, a four-race series offering a $3-million bonus.

The dream fell short in the third leg when English Channel finished second by 1 ¾ lengths to Gun Salute in the Secretariat Stakes (G1) on August 13 at Arlington Park.

Veterans Meteor Storm (GB) and Evening Attire finished second and fourth, respectively, to Shakespeare in the Belmont Breeders' Cup. Both are winless this year in a combined 11 starts but will bring plenty of class and experience to the starting gate.

Evening Attire, a seven-year-old Black Tie Affair (Ire) gelding, has amassed earnings of $2,418,192 in his 44 race career, and counts the 2002 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) among his triumphs. Last year, he won the Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) but has failed to win in nine starts since.

Meteor Storm, a six-year-old son of Bigstone (Ire), rattled off three consecutive graded stakes victories last year, taking the San Luis Rey Handicap (G2) and San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Park before shipping to Belmont Park to annex the Manhattan Handicap (G1). He closed the year with a disappointing seventh-place finish in the United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park and now has lost seven straight starts.

The field, in post-position order, with (sire), jockey, weight, and trainer:

1. Meteor Storm [GB] (Bigstone [Ire]), Javier Castellano, 126, Wally Dollase;

2. English Channel (Smart Strike), John Velazquez, 121, Todd Pletcher;

3. Salford City [Ire] (Desert Sun [GB]), Joe Bravo, 126, Patrick Biancone;

4. Evening Attire (Black Tie Affair [Ire]), Jean-Luc Samyn, 126, Patrick Kelly;

5. Islero Noir [Fr] (Septieme Ciel), Edgar Prado, 126, Christophe Clement;

6. Ace [Ire] (Danehill), Patrick Valenzuela, 126, Aidan O'Brien;

7. Alost [Fr] (Highest Honor [Fr]), Frederic Spanu, 126, Antonio Spanu; and

8. Shakespeare (Theatrical [Ire]), Jerry Bailey, 126, Bill Mott.