SYNDEGAARD and Practical Joke clashed in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park on Saturday. The two juveniles started at different ends of the spectrum as Practical Joke blundered the start and was last while Syndegaard blitzed to the lead.

Like two trains on one track, favourite Syndegaard met with four-choice Practical Joke and neither backed down, with Practical Joke winning the head bob. They were six and a half lengths clear of the third horse, Favorable Outcome.

Trained by Chad Brown for Klaravich Stable and William Lawrence, the winner carried a two-for-two record into the Champagne, as did Syndegaard, who had walloped New York-bred competition in two starts. “He’s undefeated, he’s a really good horse,” Brown said. “He’s handled the distance increases every time we’ve asked him to, and we’re looking forward to getting to run him a little bit further.”

Yellow Agate rallied from fifth to take the Frizette Stakes for China Horse Club and Christophe Clement. Making her stakes debut, the daughter of Gemologist responded to a perfect ride by Manny Franco to run down Libby’s Tail by a head. Sent off favourite after a maiden win at Belmont Park in September, Yellow Agate is now two-for-two in her burgeoning career.

“Today was a major jump going from a maiden win to a Grade 1 win. She’s always been nice from the beginning but it was a great ride by Manny. He never panicked and came from off the pace,” Clement said.

Winning his second Grade 1 stakes race in a week, Franco said: “I feel blessed.”

Classic Empire righted the ship with a professional score in the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Saturday. The two-year-old son of Pioneerof The Nile dropped his jockey at the start of the Hopeful Stakes in his previous start. With blinkers added, Classic Empire ran straight and true to draw off by three lengths over a rallying Lookin At Lee. Trained by Mark Casse and owned by John Oxley, Classic Empire improved to 3-for-4.