Wide open field of nine to face starter in Sycamore

After a promising U.S. debut in the Sword Dancer Invitational two months ago,

French import Nutello was far less effective in the September 28 Joe Hirsch Turf

Classic. The Graham Motion-trained four-year-old will have another go over 1 1/2

miles on the turf in a competitive renewal of the Grade 3, $150,000

Sycamore

at Keeneland on Thursday.

A stakes winner in France who narrowly missed shocking the 2012 edition of

the French Derby, Nutello established favorable stalking position in the Turf

Classic, just 2 1/2 lengths off the leader through the first two calls. However,

the Lemon Drop Kid colt made a swift retreat from that point on and was not

persevered with in a 42-length defeat by Little Mike. A nose farther back in the

Turf Classic was Big Blue Kitten, who Nutello had finished only 2 3/4 lengths

behind in the Sword Dancer.

Motion also sends out Canadian Grade 3 winner Eagle Poise in the Sycamore.

Sixth in the 2011 renewal which was rained off the turf, the seven-year-old

gelding returned over the summer from a 13-month layoff and was most recently

second by a neck in the Laurel Turf Cup after an belated, wide rally.

The top three finishers from the September 14 Kentucky Turf Cup will renew

rivalry on Thursday. Temeraine prevailed by a neck as the favorite in that

12-furlong test, earning his first stakes win for trainer Tom Proctor. Second

was Olympic Thunder, a Group 1 winner who ran his best race in three U.S. starts

since his importation from Brazil. Suntracer, who finished 1 1/4 lengths third

while donning blinkers for the first time, has winning experience over the local

turf.

The rugged nine-year-old Rahystrada, a five-time Grade 3 winner including

three editions of the Arlington Handicap, was a sub-par 11th of 13 in the

Arlington Million when last seen two months ago. Based at the nearby

Thoroughbred Center, the gelding has won twice in six Keeneland turf attempts,

but was only an even fourth in last year's Sycamore.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey saddles two in the Sycamore: Chilean-bred

Tricky Hat, who prevailed in the Laurel Turf in his stakes debut, and

Reflecting, who rallied for second money in the PTHA President's Cup at Parx

most recently.

The Sycamore field is rounded out by Najjaar, who claimed minor awards in the

American St Leger, Arlington Handicap, and Louisville Handicap over the summer.

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