Sycamore Runners Move On

Najjaar’s victory in Thursday’s off-the-turf Sycamore was the first Keeneland stakes triumph for trainer Dan Peitz. Najjaar returned to the Trackside Training Center in Louisville last night.

Trainer Graham Motion said runner-up Eagle Poise came out of the race fine and will be pointed to the 1¾-mile Valedictory Stakes (G3), a race he won in 2011, which will be run at Woodbine on Dec. 15. Motion also trains Nutello, the morning-line favorite for the Sycamore who was scratched from the race.

“We brought him over here to run on firm turf,” Motion said. “I am not sure what’s next for him, maybe the Red Smith (a Grade 3 race at 1 3/8 miles on Nov. 16) in New York.”

Robbie Medina, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey, said third-place finisher Tricky Hat (CHI) and sixth-place finisher Reflecting, exited the race well.

“Tricky Hat is already heading back to New York and Reflecting will go either to New York or straight to Florida,” Medina said.

Plans for fourth-place finisher Suntracer were undetermined, according to Drew Coontz, assistant to trainer Chris Block.

“He came out of the race good,” Coontz said. “He may be going back home (to Block’s main base in Chicago).”