The Grade 1 trial winners include Gormley, who was allowed to make all in the FrontRunner here when well ahead of Klimt and should figure. But Practical Joke only beat Syndergaard a nose to win the Champagne Stakes over a mile at Belmont. Classic Empire picked up the Keeneland trial in good style with Lookin At Lee three lengths behind but the latter had earlier finished nearly nine lengths adrift of NOT THIS TIME in a Grade 3 at Churchill Downs. Drawn on the outside of eight in Kentucky, Dale Romans’ colt surged to the front in the home stretch for an impressive success and today’s draw should not be too much of an inconvenience if he’s good enough. Theory steps up in trip after beating Star Empire over 6f at Belmont while Three Rules faces much stiffer opposition after winning all five starts to date at Gulfstream and Term Of Art only won a maiden here last month.
Klimt (USA) 3-10fav (8-10) Came out str,2nd best, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Gormley (8-10) at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Oct.
Syndergaard (USA) 19-10fav (8-10) Near 2p,out late,nip, 2nd of 6, shd behind Practical Joke (8-10) at Belmont Park 1m stks fst in Oct.
Term Of Art (USA) 5-2fav (8-8) 3wd into str,up btwn, won at Santa Anita 1m mdn fst in Oct beating Sonneteer (8-8) by shd, 9 ran.
Theory (USA) 1-3fav (8-6) 2p,urge 1/2-3/8,drvng, won at Belmont Park 6f stks fst in Oct beating Star Empire (8-8) by shd, 5 ran.
Classic Empire (USA) 16-10fav (8-9) Took command,drew away, won at Keeneland 1m stks fst in Oct beating Lookin At Lee (8-9) by 3l, 12 ran.
Three Rules (USA) 3-10fav (8-10) Early pressure,handily, won at Gulfstream 1m stks gd in Oct beating Thegreatcollection (8-10) by 10l, 12 ran.
Gormley (USA) 10-1 (8-10) Inside,cleared lane, won at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Oct beating Klimt (8-10) by 3l, 7 ran.
Star Empire 17-2 (8-8) 3-4w turn, rally place, 2nd of 5, shd behind Theory (8-6) at Belmont Park 6f stks fst in Oct.
Practical Joke (USA) 14-5 (8-10) Duck in st,herded late, won at Belmont Park 1m stks fst in Oct beating Syndergaard (8-10) by shd, 6 ran.
Not This Time (USA) 9-5fav (8-6) Hopped start, at will, won at Churchill Downs 1m stks fst in Sep beating Lookin At Lee (8-8) by 8 3/4l, 8 ran.
Lookin At Lee (USA) 18-1 (8-9) Rallied str, late gain, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Classic Empire (8-9) at Keeneland 1m stks fst in Oct.