Hail High One in The Champagne

By Nynl Stables on October 5, 2019

The Champagne (Grade 1) (BC)- $500.000 Purse
BEL- For Two Year Olds
One Mile on the Dirt
October 5, 2019

High One came into the Champagne with mixed results from Saratoga. He had won the Grade 3 Sanford, but then finished a frustrating fifth in the Hopeful to close out the meet. Lasix was administered for the Hopeful, but was not for the Sanford, and after the Champagne, he may never see it again, winning the third race of his still young four race career. High One was one of the top choices for the race, and a horse we picked to finish second, so it is good to see one living up to their potential and at a worthwhile price of 5/1. This horse is trained by Gdp Inc, who wins his first Champagne trophy. Jockey M J Sanchez is also a first time winner, so congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:35.32, slightly quicker then last year’s winning time. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.74)- Mystery explodes out of the starting gate for Allinthegate, and it seemed as though he would open up a bigger lead then the length advantage he would carry after a quarter mile. He seemed to be reined in just a little bit after the initial push from the gate. Running right behind him was Fancy This, from Fractious, and our eventual winner, High One, from Gdp Inc. After them, it was nearly five wide as Milan (Smokey Stover), Dragster (D J C Racing Stables), and Sail Wide (Mb Stables) were heads apart, then to their outside and within a length were Tephra (Mb Stables) and Grease (Oquinn Farm). Another length back, but running in lanes six and seven still were Big Belly Jockey (Night Rider Stables) and Not So Nice (La Canada Racehorses). Watching it all unfold ahead of them another three lengths back were Steel Champion (Nakamura Stables) and Creative Twizt (Asgar).

(½ Mile- :47.71)- There would be a change for the lead over the second quarter of the race as Fancy This moves to the front, and by about a full length over Mystery. High One, who had been running third, backed off during the backstretch and is now found in the sixth position, four and a half lengths from the front but still able to ride the rail for the turn. Dragster, Tephra, and Grease were the ones that got by him, but not really because any of them made a push towards the front. Sail Away, Big Belly Jockey, and Not So Nice all ran to the outside of High One, and both Steel Champion and Creative Twizt remained at the back.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.7F To Go)- At the front, Mystery has caught back up to Fancy This and the two of them start going at each other pretty hard while other challengers begin to get involved. Tephra moved down a lane and was in a great position to make a run. High One had regained the track position that he had conceded earlier with a good rail trip and was now positioned to move to the outside of the original frontrunners. Dragster was hanging around near the front, and we started to see Milan push forward from the outside.

(Finish- 1:35.32)- Early in the stretch run, it was looking like Tephra would have enough to secure the win, but with a furlong to go, High One had plenty left in the tank to pick it up a notch and out run him for the win. That had to be particularly satisfying for Gdp Inc, since he had not run over seven furlongs previously. Tephra could not keep up with him, and found himself clinging to the second position, ahead of a late bid from Milan. Mystery prevails over Fancy This for the fourth place check, and the final finishing order would read Dragster, Sail Away, Not So Nice, Big Belly Jockey, Creative Twizt, Steel Champion, and Grease.

About The Winner- High One, trained by Gdp Inc and ridden to victory by M J Sanchez is a two year old gelding by High Pride, and is out of Rev One. He was bred as a yearling in the great breeding state of Pennsylvania by Gdp Inc, the only trainer he has ever had. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his third in four starts, and his career earnings improve to $417.000.

Horse Name

Owner Name

Jockey

Odds

Fin

Time

SRF

High One

Gdp Inc

Sanchez M J

5.55

1¹