2024 Champagne Stakes at a Glance

October 2nd, 2024 by Bob Ehalt

Champagne Stakes, Aqueduct, Timberlake, Coglianese Photos, Dom Napolitano

The horses in the 2023 Champagne Stakes, won by Timberlake, race into the stretch at Aqueduct. (Coglianese Photos/Dom Napolitano)

New York’s top representative for the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile presented by TAA should be decided Saturday when 10 2-year-olds square off in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct’s Belmont at the Big A meeting. The race is also a “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series stakes, supplying the winner with an expenses-paid spot in the Nov. 1 Juvenile at Del Mar.

Racetrack: Aqueduct Racetrack, New York

Date: Oct. 5

Purse: $500,000

Distance: 1 mile

Race: 8

Post Time: 3:49 p.m. ET

Notable winners: Jack Christopher (2021), Jackie’s Warrior (2020), Tiz the Law (2019), Firenze Fire (2017), Practical Joke (2016), Shanghai Bobby (2012), Union Rags (2011), Uncle Mo (2010), War Pass (2007), Scat Daddy (2006), Birdstone (2003), Timber Country (1994), Dehere (1993), Sea Hero (1992), Fly So Free (1990), Easy Goer (1988), Forty Niner (1987), Devil’s Bag (1983), Spectacular Bid (1978), Alydar (1977), Seattle Slew (1976), Foolish Pleasure (1974), Riva Ridge (1971), Buckpasser (1965), Count Fleet (1942), Sarazen (1923), Grey Lag (1920), Colin (1907), and Ben Brush (1895).

First held: 1867

1. J J Zo Zo: New Jersey-bred broke his maiden in third start and then won easily in an open stakes at Monmouth Park. Showed nice speed in that victory but the stretch out to a mile in a Grade 1 stakes should work against him.

JOCKEY: Jorge Ruiz; TRAINER: Jose Sanchez

2. Tip Top Thomas: Showed speed and grit in winning his career debut by a head after dueling for the lead from the start. Has worked in solid fashion since then and, if he can duplicate his initial start, he’ll be a force here.

JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

3. Lethal Speed: Closed from seventh to win his debut at Gulfstream Park but a slow speed figure does not bode well for his chances.

JOCKEY: Jose Gomez; TRAINER: Shivananda Parbhoo

4. Mo Plex: New York-bred is undefeated in three starts and won the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes in his second outing. Speed figures are a notch below the top contender, but the Sanford win definitely puts him in the mix.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Jeremiah Englehart

5. Uncaged: Was able to close at six furlongs and win going away. The time was fast and he’s bred to handle the distance. Looks like a major player.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Todd Pletcher

6. Vekoma Rides: A son of the hot first-year sire Vekoma, he was a convincing maiden winner at Aqueduct three weeks ago. Speed figures work against him but he looked the part of a promising 2-year-old in his debut.

JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: John Kimmel

7. Smoken Wicked: Set pace in the Hopeful at 31.75-1 and tired in the final furlong to finish fourth. His speed figures are going up and he gets a positive rider change to Dylan Davis. An interesting longshot possibility.

JOCKEY: Dylan Davis; TRAINER: Dallas Stewart

8. Colonel Bob: Enters off a debut win at Parx Racing for Butch Reid, who merits attention whenever he ships to New York. Will need a big jump in speed figures to be competitive.

JOCKEY: Mychel Sanchez; TRAINER: Butch Reid

9. Executive Order: Romped in his debut with a competitive speed figure. Others are more attractive, but he’s hardly a tossout.

JOCKEY: Jose Lezcano; TRAINER: Phil Serpe

Chancer McPatrick winning his career debut. (Angelo Lieto/NYRA)

10. Chancer McPatrick: A deserving favorite off a sharp rally from eighth to win the Hopeful Stakes. He acts like he’ll welcome the added distance and should be hard to beat if he continues to improve off his last start.

JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown

THE PICK: Chancer McPatrick

LIVE LONGSHOT: Smoken Wicked

SUPERFECTA: 10-2-5-7