The Champagne – Grade I [BC]

1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.00 Open 2 Year Olds.

1st        Grass Crown Jerry Garcia Racing    Beschizza A                    1:34.99

Well after taking the grass crown last time out he may need renaming to Dirt or Grass Crown after this win that sends him to the BC with many strings to his bow. With a conformation that says he could run for about 4 miles it is remarkable that he has been so good at sprinting but today he met a route for the first time and really seemed to love every inch. Close up all the way he played the rail draw perfectly but had to fight all the way to hold on to a neck win.

He goes to the BC a big chance for the stables new sire Excoriator who was too late to get into the juvenile himself but developed into a graded stakes winner and is developing into a decent sire.

2nd       Sacred Star     Serenity Stables          Bocachica Ar                1:35.06

The wide gate speed push favored by the race engine saw him go on speed today and he very nearly held on after contesting it with the other wide gate. I liked the way he cleared the field and then the jockey took a pull rather than fighting his stable companion but in the end the inevitable drift let the rail through and he just couldn’t find enough at the end. I think if the draw was reversed this race could’ve looked a bit different so I will be looking forward to the rematch when there is no doubt the draw in the BC will play the biggest part.    

3rd        Snapped           Nynl Stables                  Contreras L                    1:35.10

Suffered from the closers timing issues as he flew from a mile back to grab third but left his move a fraction too late. His running style will continue to be a handicap but he is clearly full of talent and if things go right could well pick up a big race in the future.              

4^th=       Celebrini          Big Jd Racing                 Alvarado J                        1:35.23             

Another closer that flew home but another that couldn’t get the timing right. Like the third placed horse there is talent there it is just whether this running style stops him reaching his full potential in these big races.

4^th=       Umoja                London Racing             Prat F                                 1:35.23 Yup you guessed it another closer relying on the closers lottery he too arrived too late and ended up sharing fourth. It is a familiar picture, but sometimes (though not consistently) all the stars align and these closers prevail as this one did in the Hopeful last time. He will get another shot in the BC and if things go his way he will be a winning chance.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES