L'Imperator, En Wye Cee Rematch in Baruch

It's not unusual to see the Saratoga meeting's top two trainer knock heads in graded competition and such is again the case in Monday's GII Bernard Baruch H. Representing 'Team Pletcher' is En Wye Cee (Declaration of War), a winner going nine furlongs in a rained-off optional claimer at this meet in 2020, but winless in two starts since. After rounding out last season with a third behind the Chad Brown-trained pair of Devamani (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Olympico (Fr) (Rajsaman {Fr}), the full-brother to GSW Silentio lacked racing room in early stretch in his latest start in a nine-furlong optional claimer here Aug. 4 and had to settle for third behind the re-opposing L'Imperator (Fr) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).

“He had a tough trip last out, but he's come back well,” Pletcher said. “He had a tough trip in his comeback race but ran well, hopefully he moves forward from having a start.”

Waving the flag for 'Team Brown', L'Imperator annexed a trio of starts in France before resurfacing in the U.S. with Brown for last summer's one-mile GIII Saranac S. Seventh that day, the gelding bounced back to win his latest with Irad Ortiz Jr. Debuting in the irons. The two reunite in this second start of the year.

“He's come back really well. He's a totally different horse and I've been very pleased with him,” said Brown. “It's a little bit of a cutback in distance, that would be the only concern. But we're giving it a shot. I was impressed and he exceed my expectations in his allowance win. Gelding him and giving him the time off have really gotten him over some of his soreness and such. He certainly did a 180.”