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Uncle Mo the overwhelming choice in Champagne Trainer Todd Pletcher would have Saturday's $300,000 Champagne S. (G1) cornered, if both halves of his explosive Repole Stable entry of UNCLE MO (Indian Charlie) and STAY THIRSTY (Bernardini) contested the one-mile heat at Belmont Park. Stay Thirsty has been entered as a back-up plan, however, and Uncle Mo is expected to fly the stable colors alone as the heavy favorite against five other juvenile colts. Debuting at Saratoga on the Travers S. (G1) undercard, Uncle Mo turned in one of the most talked about debuts of the season thus far, drawing off in the final quarter-mile to win by 14 1/4 lengths while under minimal hand urging by John Velazquez. The word was out among the betting public, who backed the bay down to 4-5 in a field of 10, and more of the same will be expected in this race that serves as a springboard to the November 6 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). Stay Thirsty has more experience than his stablemate. Second in his debut, he graduated next out by 5 1/2 lengths, then fought on gamely to hold second in the Hopeful S. (G1) behind Boys at Tosconova (Officer) after stumbling at the break and showing speed. Javier Castellano is listed as the rider aboard Stay Thirsty, who is bred to stretch out successfully. SETTLE FOR MEDAL (Medallist) trailed throughout the Hopeful after getting bumped at the break, but had shown talented when rallying to win a maiden by two lengths in his previous start. Other last-out maiden winners in the field are BROTHER IN ARMS (Yes It's True), who needed four starts to secure his diploma, and the Nick Zito-trained MERIDIAN MAGIC (Mineshaft), who joins fellow Delaware graduate I'M STEPPIN' UP (Congrats) in the lineup. The field is rounded out by MOUNTAIN TOWN (Cape Town), claimed for $75,000 from his winning debut by owner Paul Pompa Jr. and trainer Rick Dutrow. Pletcher has four of the nine two-year-old fillies in the $300,000 Frizette S. (G1), also at one mile. The field looks a bit more wide open on paper, but the Eclipse Award-winning barn still figures to send out several of the favorites. TAP FOR LUCK (Tapit), an impressive debut winner at the Spa August 20, could overshadow in the wagering R HEAT LIGHTNING (Trippi) and VALIANT PASSION (Lion Heart), the one-three finishers in the Spinaway S. (G1), and Sorority S. runner-up MAPLE FOREST (Forestry). Invading from California's synthetic tracks is the Bob Baffert-trained A Z WARRIOR (Bernardini), a debut winner who later ran second in the Sorrento S. (G3) but a dull fifth in the Darley Debutante (G1). Other notables in the Frizette are last-out maiden winners PROMISE ME A CAT (D'wildcat), JOYFUL VICTORY (Tapit) and AFTER LATER (Orientate), while COAX LIBERTY (Successful Appeal) will add blinkers following nondescript showings in the Adirondack S. (G2) and Spinaway. The nominal third Grade 1 on the program, the $250,000 Jamaica H. (G1) at nine furlongs on the inner turf, attracted 11 three-year-olds. BEAU CHOIX (Elusive Quality), who makes his belated debut against graded foes in this spot, figures to be one of the favorites despite running second most recently in the Restoration S. at Monmouth Park. Prior to that, the Barclay Tagg trainee was a smart winner of the Quick Call S. at Saratoga and James W. Murphy S. at Pimlico. KRYPTON (Rock Hard Ten) won the Hill Prince S. (G3) at the Belmont spring meeting, finished third to Paddy O'Prado (El Prado [Ire]) in the Virginia Derby (G2), then missed by a head in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) last out. TEAKS NORTH (Northern Afleet), the Restoration victor, will attempt to carry his form over from Monmouth, where he won two straight in August. The first three finishers from the September 5 Saranac S. (G3) -- LETHAL COMBINATION (Broken Vow), TURF MELODY (Maria's Mon) and FANTASTICO ROBERTO (Ire) (Refuse to Bend [Ire]) -- will renew rivalry, while ADMIRAL ALEX (Afleet Alex), who was entered in the Travers S. (G1) off a maiden score for trainer Leon Blusiewicz, will try grass for the first time following a last-place effort in that 1 1/4-mile test. Turf Melody is cross-entered in the Hawthorne Derby (G3).
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