Hopeful duo clash in Champagne; Nobiz seeks third straight in Jamaica

Hopeful duo clash in Champagne; Nobiz seeks third straight

in Jamaica

MAJESTIC WARRIOR (A.P. Indy) and READY'S IMAGE (More Than Ready), who

completed the exacta in that order in the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga, will

square off once again in Saturday's $400,000 Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont Park.

The 136th running of the one-mile test has drawn a field of eight, each seeking

to book his ticket to the October 27 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) under the "Win

and You're In" promotion.

The Bill Mott-trained Majestic Warrior is two-for-two so far, with both

outings coming at the Spa. The son of multiple Grade 1 queen Dream Supreme

(Seeking the Gold) captured his debut by 3 1/2 lengths, then launched a rally as

impressive as it was improbable to reel in Ready's Image by 2 1/4 lengths in the

Hopeful. Majestic Warrior has drawn the rail in the Champagne and will keep

Garrett Gomez in the saddle for his first try at a mile.

Ready's Image entered the Hopeful as the pro tem divisional leader, following

big-margin scores in the Sanford S. (G2) and Tremont S. After pressing the quick

pace set by Maimonides (Vindication) in the Hopeful, Ready's Image took charge

in the stretch, only to tire late and settle for second. Horseman Todd Pletcher

doesn't think the seven-furlong distance was to blame, just the way the race

unfolded.

"Obviously, he's done very well at shorter distances, but I think he's got

the right kind of disposition that will allow him to relax and stretch out,"

Pletcher said. "He rated kindly enough in the Hopeful. We had a tough dilemma to

figure out that day in a short field with one horse who had a lot of speed, and

another horse that figured to drop out the back. By applying the pressure, we

probably ended up doing a little too much early on and setting it up for

Majestic Warrior."

With regular rider John Velazquez at Keeneland, Eibar Coa picks up the mount

on Ready's Image. The dark bay will break from the far outside in post 8.

LANTANA MOB (Posse) is the only other stakes winner in the field. Conditioned

by Steve Asmussen, the bay stumbled at the start of the Tremont and wound up a

distant fourth to Ready's Image, but he's turned things around at Monmouth.

Lantana Mob rebounded with victories in the Tyro S. and Sapling S. (G3), the

latter by an emphatic 3 3/4 lengths, and will try to extend his winning streak

here while stepping up from six furlongs.

Mott's other entrant is Z HUMOR (Distorted Humor), a smashing debut maiden

winner at the Spa. Next time out, he finished third to Lantana Mob in the

Sapling.

The undefeated WAR PASS (Cherokee Run) will make his stakes bow in the

Champagne. The Nick Zito pupil graduated from a stylish maiden score to a 5

1/2-length romp against allowance/optional claiming company at Saratoga.

Majestic Warrior will lead the post parade, followed by Z Humor with Kent

Desormeaux; ANAKIM (Giant's Causeway), Javier Castellano; War Pass, Cornelio

Velasquez; PYRO (Pulpit), Shaun Bridgmohan; Lantana Mob, Stewart Elliott; SILVER

EDITION (Silver Deputy), Eddie Castro; and Ready's Image.

Each juvenile will shoulder 122 pounds.

Also on Saturday, two-year-old fillies will travel one mile in the $400,000

Frizette S. (G1). ARMONK (Mizzen Mast), runner-up in the Matron S. (G2) last

time out, will be equipped with blinkers as she tries to break her maiden in her

third start. The Kiaran McLaughlin filly will be reunited with Coa.

Bob Baffert will send out INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie), who scorched

Saratoga with a 5 1/4-length debut victory while reeling off 5 1/2 furlongs in

1:03.26. In her first stakes, and mile, attempt, the dark bay will get the

services of Gomez. Mott will be represented by a recent maiden winner,

SUNDAY HOLIDAY (Sunday Break [Jpn]), who was cross-entered to Friday's

Alcibiades S. (G1) at Keeneland but is expected to opt for this spot.

A LITTLE GEM (Yonaguska) is coming off a 2 1/4-length tally in the Sorority

S. at Monmouth for Steve Margolis, while DILL OR NO DILL (Evansville Slew), a

recent recruit to the Gary Contessa barn, is exiting a daylight score versus the

boys in the Clever Trevor S. at Remington Park.

Dill or No Dill will break from the rail with Mike Luzzi. Lining up to her

outside will be COLOR ME UP (Aptitude), Castro; ELOCUTION (Mutakddim),

Bridgmohan; BACKSEAT RHYTHM (El Corredor), Castellano; SABOOH (A.P. Indy),

Velasquez; Indian Blessing; A Little Gem, Jose Lezcano; Armonk; and Sunday

Holiday, Desormeaux.

Each starter will carry 120 pounds.

Concluding the stakes action is the $300,000

Jamaica H.

(G2) for sophomores at 1 1/8 miles on the inner turf. Wood Memorial S. (G1)

hero NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great), the 121-pound co-highweight, will bid

to go three-for-three on the grass. Trained by Barclay Tagg, who saddled Showing

Up (Strategic Mission) to win this event last year, the bay has registered

gritty victories in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. (G2) and Kent

Breeders' Cup S. (G3) since switching surfaces. Castellano will guide Nobiz Like

Shobiz from post 2.

Likewise toting 121 pounds are the top two from the Secretariat S. (G1),

SHAMDINAN (Fr) (Dr Fong) and RED GIANT (Giant's Causeway), respectively. Third

in the Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) in June, Shamdinan made his

American debut a winning one when just collaring Red Giant near the wire in the

Secretariat. Shamdinan failed to strike a blow versus older horses in the Man o'

War S. (G1), checking in fifth, and was subsequently transferred from Doug

O'Neill to Angel Penna Jr. The Pletcher-trained Red Giant, who took the Virginia

Derby (G2) two back, has not raced since the Secretariat.

ADAGIO (GB) (Grand Lodge) is an intriguing new shooter for Richard Dutrow.

The winner of the Craven S. (Eng-G3) in his three-year-old bow, the dark bay was

last seen finishing fourth in the May 17 Dante S. (Eng-G2), beaten 7 1/2 lengths

by top European sophomore Authorized (Montjeu [Ire]). Adagio will get Lasix in

his American premiere.