The Champagne (BC) (KYD) (Grade 1)- $500.000 Purse
BEL- For Two Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
October 6, 2018

There was plenty of reason to like Bo Knows heading into the Champagne. He had already performed well in the tough FL Sire Stakes, including a win, and seemed as though he would like going just a little bit longer here, and with that we made him our pick to win. That all played out as the Bo Jangles colt ran a smart race tactically and proved that he is at least, a one-sport star. I guess this isn’t the time to see if he can do double duty with steeplechases, too. The winning trainer is Smokey Stover, who enjoys his first Champagne victory toast, and that is true as well for jockey J Alvarado. Congratulations to them! Next up for this one will be the BC Juvenile, and that will be just the start of what figures to be a promising season next year. The time of the win was 1:35.39, the fourth quickest in the history of the stake. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.62)- Initially out of the starting gate, Where You At takes his outside push for Rampage Stable, and appears to be about to open up on the field, but he then gets reigned in a bit just prior to hitting a quarter mile, and that puts him into the third position. Emerging with the lead would be two horses who also started strongly. Top Hat and Candlestick, stablemates for Mb Stables are heads apart now for the top spot, though Candlestick is in a four wide spot. After Where You At comes Commanding Bee, and the Serenity Stables colt is also within half a length. Then comes a gap of a length to a threesome stalking the leaders. It consists of Free At Last (Eastern Equine) on the rail, Whats The Big Idea (Oquinn Farm) in the middle, and Call It A Comeback (Estero Farms). The eventual race winner, Bo Knows, is right behind them for Smokey Stover, and keeps an eye on the lane to the inside of Call It A Comeback. Precious Diplomat (D J C Racing Stables) was close by to Bo Knows, and trailing the field would be Hymnal (Williams9), and Conformity (Spongebob).

(½ Mile- :46.88)- In the lead is Top Hat, showing the field down the backstretch and into the turn. Stablemate Candlestick was able to move into the second lane without any trouble. These two now pull ahead by approximately two lengths. Looming in the third lane, and seeming poised for a move was Commanding Bee, and Serenity Stables had to like how things were setting up for him. He was a half length in front of Where You At and Free At Last, who were even for the fourth position. Call It A Comeback had moved into the sixth position, and looked to go four wide. Conformity was pretty ambitious about midway through the turn and advanced well and until he could advance no longer without running into an opponent. Whats The Big Idea and Bo Knows, well maybe also knew the big idea as he situated himself in the middle of the field, and could follow Commanding Bee through if he wanted. Precious Diplomat now found himself in the back, running with Hymnal.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- About midway into the turn, we saw several look to make their move. Top Hat and Candlestick were trying to pace the way, but they were caught. Commanding Bee was full of run as they made exit of the turn, and would emerge with the lead at the top of the stretch. For now, Top Hat and Candlestick were still to his inside. Free At Last was coming on through as he moved down a lane for the rail, and loomed as a major threat. Conformity maintained his position on the rail and looked to follow him along. Call It A Comeback swung way outside for his own move. That would allow a nice gap to open up for Bo Knows, who had been following Commanding Bee, but now needed to prepare for the pass. He was scored as only in eighth now, but he was coming on strong and was only within a length. Even the trailers, Precious Diplomat and Hymnal were close enough to make a move of their own if they could.

(Finish- 1:35.39)- A fantastic finish would unfold in this race. Commanding Bee was looking good, but Call It A Comeback, with his wide move was making progress and would ultimately make the pass. However, Bo Knows, once he found his way through the opening, had just a little more run then both of them, and would get up just in time for the win. An impressive win for him, and a great run for both Call It A Comeback, and Commanding Bee. The BC Juvenile will be a thrill watching all three of them (presumably). It was a length back to Free At Last, the longshot who still ran a good race. Conformity and Whats The Big Idea also ran well to the wire, and with a better trip or less interference along the way, they would have been closer to the front. All six of them are names to store in the memory bank not just for the BC, but as we eventually move on into the three year old season. The next four were close to one another, that being Where You At, Candlestick, Top Hat, and Hymnal. Precious Diplomat brings up the rear.

About The Winner- Bo Knows, trained by Smokey Stover and ridden to victory by J Alvarado, is a two year old colt by Bo Jangles, and it out of Downtheredcarpet. He was bred in Florida by Our Athletes as a yearling, and acquired by Smokey Stover in private sales in early June for $350.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in six starts, his second stake win, and his first graded win. His career earnings are now $504.800.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :46⁴  1:10³  1:35¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 6 Paid 29.60
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 6 – 7 Paid 50.40

Scratched: Beach Dandy, Harley Street

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES