As the Breeders’ Cup draws ever closer, the preps for the World Championships take on added meaning. In New York this weekend, among four Grade 1 stakes Saturday at Belmont Park is the Champagne Stakes, which will spotlight the Empire State’s leading hopeful for the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.
Considering that winners of the Champagne have accounted for two Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and two Belmont Stakes wins since 2010, this edition of the one-mile stakes for 2-year-olds deserves close attention. Part of the “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series, the Champagne offers the winner an expenses-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
1. Ambivalent: He’s never been worse than fourth in four career starts, but he’s still a maiden even though he’s raced twice in stakes. In his best barometer for this race, he was third in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar but was disqualified and placed fourth. Given it’s a small field, he could take home a share of the purse – a small share – as he moves from turf to back to dirt.
JOCKEY: John Velazquez; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill
2. Run Casper Run: He won a Colonial Downs maiden race in his last race and first start on dirt, but the speed figure was weak and he’ll need major improvement to be a factor here.
JOCKEY: Jose Lezcano; TRAINER: Juan Vasquez
3. Civil War: Showed a nice stretch kick in rallying from nine lengths back to win his debut at Monmouth Park. That was just a 5 ½-furlong sprint, which bodes well for his chances of stretching out. Yet it was also a $40,000 maiden-claiming race and the huge jump in class to a Grade 1 stakes should come back to haunt him.
JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Tom Albertrani
4. Jackie’s Warrior: There’s no doubt he’ll be heavily favored in a small field. Not only has he won all three of his starts, but he’s done so easily with his sharp early speed. He’s also handled increasing distances from five furlongs to six to seven in the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. Tacking on another furlong to a mile should not be a problem here.
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen
5. Reinvestment Risk: He was forced to chase Jackie’s Warrior in the Hopeful and came up 2 1/4 lengths short while finishing second. If someone can pressure Jackie’s Warrior on the front end it will definitely help his cause, but it doesn’t look like there’s anyone who fits that bill here.
JOCKEY: Irad Ortiz Jr.; TRAINER: Chad Brown
6. Midnight Bourbon: Like Jackie’s Warrior, he’s trained by Steve Asmussen and he’s experienced at a one-turn mile. He tired in the final furlong after leading at the eighth pole and wound up second in the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes. He should benefit from that experience and figures to be a major threat here.
JOCKEY: Jose Ortiz; TRAINER: Steve Asmussen
THE PICK: Jackie’s Warrior
LIVE LONGSHOT: Ambivalent
SUPERFECTA: 4-5-6-1
Daily Double
6-4
6-4
$152
Superfecta
4-5-6-3
4-5-6-3
$1
Daily Double
6-4
6-4
$152
Superfecta
4-5-6-3
4-5-6-3
$1
