Practical Joke Back to One Turn for Dwyer

Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence's Practical Joke (Into Mischief) returns to the track and trip of his GI Champagne S. triumph last October in Saturday's GIII Dwyer S. at Belmont Park. The Chad Brown trainee also annexed the GI Hopeful S. going seven panels at Saratoga in August, but was a well-beaten third in the GI Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile Nov. 5 in his first attempt around two turns. He resurfaced to be second in Gulfstream's GII Xpressbet Fountain of Youth S. and again settled for that slot in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass Apr. 8, both times seeming like a slight cutback might prove to his liking. The bay stayed on reasonably well to be fifth last out in the GI Kentucky Derby May 6 over a wet surface. Lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' Battalion Runner Unbridled's Song) could have started in the Derby, but his connections opted to bypass it and instead took home the roses with Always Dreaming (Bodemeister). The $700,000 KEESEP acquisition was a second-out romper at Gulfstream on New Year's Eve, and added a two-turn optional claimer there Feb. 3 before proving second best to Irish War Cry (Curlin) after setting an honest pace in the Apr. 8 GII Wood Memorial S. The grey has fired bullets in both of his last two works over the strip. “He's doing well,” trainer Todd Pletcher told the NYRA notes team. “I think a one-turn mile is a good place to get him back started again and hopefully build from there. He's got good tactical speed and is versatile enough that, depending on how the race unfolds; he can be prominent without being on the lead.” Giuseppe the Great (Lookin At Lucky) gave eventual MGSW Timeline (Hard Spun) a run for his money second out in Florida May 4 before breaking through at Keeneland Apr. 8. He was second at 30-1 in the GII Woody Stephens S. over a furlong shorter here June 10.