An all-expenses paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile will be on the line in Saturday's GI Champagne S. at Belmont Park, and a compact, but talented group have been signed on, led by narrow GI Hopeful S. winner Practical Joke (Into Mischief).
“He's been training great since the Hopeful,” trainer Chad Brown said of the field's lone graded winner. “He has been working well since he moved to Belmont and I think added distance should only help this horse.”
Brown will also be represented by impressive six-furlong Saratoga debut winner Favorable Outcome (Flatter).
The speedy 'TDN Rising Star' Syndergaard (Majesticperfection), a dazzling winner of Saratoga's Funny Cide S. Aug. 26, takes on open company for the first time in his first attempt beyond 6 1/2 furlongs.
“We've been very pleased with how he's been coming up into the race,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of the New York-bred. “He's been impressive in his two races and just as impressive in his works since then so we're looking forward to seeing how he handles the step up in class and the stretch-out in distance. I really like what we've been seeing in the mornings.”
Big Gray Rocket (Tapit) invades from California for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert after putting on a 'TDN Rising Star' performance at second asking at Del Mar Sept. 5.
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