Nordic Truce Seeks Redemption in Hall of Fame

Nordic Truce, whose four-race winning streak was snapped by Krypton in the Grade 3 Hill Prince at Belmont Park, looks to turn the tables Friday afternoon in the 26^th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Christophe Clement, the 3-year-old son of Yes It’s True came from off the pace to win his first three starts, including the Grade 3 Transylvania at Keeneland, then battled for the lead with Krypton before yielding grudgingly in the final strides of the June 4 Hill Prince, his most recent start.

“He was a touch unlucky in that race,” said Clement of Nordic Truce, who is owned by Ammerland Stud. “He is training very well, doing well, and I am hoping the turf is firm because he is better on firm turf. How close he will be depends entirely on the pace.”

Julien Leparoux, who was aboard for all three of Nordic Truce’s victories, is reunited with the colt, who drew post 6 and was tabbed at 5-2 on the morning line for the 1 1/8^th mile turf race.

Krypton followed the Hill Prince, his first graded stakes win, with a third-place finish behind Paddy O’Prado and Interactif in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby on July 17.

“He's a nice horse and he's ready to go,” said Kiaran McLaughlin who trains the Rock Hard Ten colt for Harvey Clarke and Ron Winchell. “He’s been doing well. We have to beat Interactif - he finished ahead of us last time.”

Krypton will leave from post position 3 under Rajiv Maragh, who is 2-1-1 in four mounts aboard the 3-1 choice on the morning line.

Following a main track detour that encompassed a second-place finish in the Grade 2 San Felipe, a fourth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass and a seventh-place finish in the Belmont Stakes, Interactif returned to the turf in the Virginia Derby, in which he rallied from eight lengths back to finish second, beaten 1 ½ lengths.

On the turf, the Broken Vow colt is 2-2-1 from five starts including a 4 ¼-length victory over Jung Man Scott and Paddy O’Prado in last year’s Grade 3 With Anticipation at the Spa.

“I thought he ran very well in the Virginia Derby,” said Todd Pletcher, who trains Interactif for Wertheimer and Frere. “He seemed to like the turf course here last year when he won the With Anticipation. He’s been training well and we’re looking forward to a good performance from him.”

As part of an entry with Colizeo, who is entered Main Track Only, Interactif was made the morning-line favorite at 8-5 with Javier Castellano named to ride from post position 5.

Grand Rapport, who came off a 7 ½-month layoff to rally from last to first in his turf debut at Monmouth Park on July 16, will have Ramon Dominguez aboard as he makes his third start in a graded race.

“He’s a big, good-looking horse with a tremendous turf family,” said trainer Gary Contessa of the Grand Reward gelding, owned by Earle Mack. “When we brought him back he was about 70 percent, which is exactly what I wanted.”

Grand Rapport, 12-1 on the morning line, leaves from post position 2.

Making his American debut is Paris Vegas, ninth in the Group 2 Prix Moailles at Longchamp in April, and completing the field is Citrus Kid, who was seventh in the Grade 3 Lecomte in January in his only start of 2010.

The field for the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes:

Also eligible: