Classic Empire Enters Juvenile on Strong Note

A geographically diverse and evenly matched field is set to face the starter in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) going 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita Park Nov. 5. Just three of the 12 pre-entered 2-year-olds call the West Coast home.

The travel team is led by Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (gr. I) winner Classic Empire, who finally put it all together in that race after having trouble leaving the starting gate in his first three races. Although he won two of those, he wheeled and lost the rider in the grade I Hopeful, prompting trainer Mark Casse to put blinkers on the colt and get two solid gate works into him before the Futurity, in which he also wore blinkers, was perfect at the start, and ultimately cruised to a three-length victory.

If he can mind his manners in California, Classic Empire will be tough to defeat. Owner John Oxley reports the colt continues to train well at Churchill Downs.

NOVAK: Classic Empire in Breeders' Futurity Score

Practical Joke is all ready a two-time grade I winner and undefeated in three starts. He has shown his gameness in coming from off the pace to win the Hopeful by a neck and then, in the Champagne (gr. I), escaping off the rail in mid-stretch to prevail by a nose over Syndergaard, whom he will meet again here.

Not This Time was a bang-up winner of the Iroquois (gr. III) in the mud, but broke his maiden over a fast strip by 10 lengths. He has also shown versatility by winning on the front end and also from three lengths off the Iroquois pace.

ANGST: Not This Time Overwhelms Iroquois Rivals

Speedy Syndergaard dominated fellow New York-breds and then hung on to just miss in the Champagne at a flat mile. He has been in front at every call but that last one in his three races, but needs to stretch his speed out at the farther distance here. He is likely to get pace pressure from the Florida-bred star Three Rules, who is undefeated in five starts and was a daylight winner in each. He will need to show he can make the adjustment from state-breds to open company, but certainly has flashed the talent to think that is possible.

Theory has cruised to victory in his two starts, each at six furlongs. He has raced just off the pace in each, and might find himself in an agreeable spot here if he’s good enough and can negotiate the two turns.

As for the home team, Gormley and Klimt meet again after running first and second, respectively, in the FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita. Klimt, from the Bob Baffert barn, was the odds-on favorite going into that race off his Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) score, but was placed farther off the pace in the FrontRunner and displayed a mild rally. He will have to move forward and that is quite possible with Baffert’s track record.

ANGST: Gormley Upsets FrontRunner Field

Gormley set the fractions in the FrontRunner at 10-1 and was never in danger, scoring by three lengths and remaining unbeaten in two starts, which is of note because trainer John Shirreffs does not normally crank up his youngsters early.