'TDN Rising Star' Jack Christopher (Munnings) returns to action Saturday in the GII Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs. A dazzling debut winner at Saratoga Aug. 18, the flashy chestnut scored another decisive victory in Belmont's GI Champagne S. Oct. 2, earning a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. He was the early favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but was scratched by the vet the day before the race. A stress fracture was discovered in the colt's left shin that required a screw to be inserted and he returned to Chad Brown's care in February.
Todd Pletcher saddles a pair of strong contenders in My Prankster (Into Mischief) and Major General (Constitution). A no-brainer 'TDN Rising Star' after a tour-de-force performance in his Saratoga unveiling in August, My Prankster was fourth to 'Jack' in the Champagne and checked in second next out over a sloppy track at Keeneland in the Bowman Mill S. Oct. 30. He closed out his juvenile season with an optional claimer score at Gulfstream Dec. 10. Kicking off this term with a win in Gulfstream's GIII Swale S. Feb. 5, the $600,000 FTKSEL buy was last seen finishing fourth on a wet track in Keeneland's Lafayette S. Apr. 8.
Major General opened his account with a pair of wins, following his debut score at the Spa in August with a victory in the GIII Iroquois S. at Churchill Sept. 18. Never running a step when 10th in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 12, the dark bay checked in second last out in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Apr. 16.
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