Saturday’s Grade 1 $500,000 Champagne Stakes annually is one of the most important 2-year-old races on the calendar. The 1-turn mile shares the program with the Grade 1 Frizette for the 2-year-old fillies among four consecutive stakes spanning Races 5-8.
Let’s meet the contenders for the Champagne (Race 8):
#1-JJ ZO ZO: New Jersey-bred has won two straight at Monmouth in front-running fashion, including the open-company Smoke Glacken Stakes over 6 furlongs. Inside speed for trainer Jose Sanchez.
#2-TIP TOP THOMAS: Trainer Todd Pletcher owns a record 6 Champagne wins, all between 2004-’14, teaming with Irad Ortiz Jr. in 2013 with Havana. This Aug. 24 Saratoga debut winner survived a 3-way photo over 6 furlongs. From the first crop of sprinter Volatile, who won the Vanderbilt and Aristides in a 5-for-6 career. He sired 4 winners during the Saratoga summer meet from 15 starters.
#3-LETHAL SPEED: Rallying debut winner made up more than 7 lengths in his Sept. 7 Gulfstream sprint unveiling over 6-1/2 furlongs. $60,000 purchase in April for owner-trainer Shivananda Parbhoo, best known for 2012 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Trinniberg.
#4-MO PIEX: Undefeated son of 2018 Champagne winner Complexity. The New York-bred won the Grade 3 Sanford in open company as well as the Funny Cide against state-breds during a successful Saratoga stand. Trainer Jeremiah Englehart loses regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. to Tip Top Thomas on Saturday. Jockey Manny Franco won the ’19 Champagne aboard Tiz the Law.
#5-UNCAGED: Stalking Aug. 3 Saratoga debut winner in the mud. Trainer Todd Pletcher owns a record 6 Champagne wins, all between 2004-’14. Jockey Joel Rosario won this race in 2016 (Practical Joke) and 2020 (Jackie’s Warrior). He’s a $450,000 Curlin colt out of a Delaware Oaks winner and should appreciate distance.
#6-VEKOMA RIDES: Romped by 5 lengths in his Sept. 14 debut at Aqueduct for trainer John Kimmel. Sire Vekoma won the 2018 Nashua over this Aqueduct strip while making his second career start like Vekoma Rides. Vekoma’s first crop has produced 24 wins from its first 95 starts, including Grade 3 stakes victor Jonathan’s Way.
#7-SMOKEN WICKED: Evangeline Downs debut winner was transferred this summer to Dallas Stewart and has since cashed minor checks in the Bashford Manor, Saratoga Special and Hopeful. Bred top and bottom to sprint while looking for his first win beyond 4-1/2 furlongs.
#8-COLONEL BOB: Rolled to 5-1/4 length debut win at Parx for trainer Butch Reid on Aug. 20. Took 23 days to return to the workout tab, but most recently popped a half-mile bullet in 47 flat. First-crop sire Yorkton has 3 winners to date, and was an effective stakes sprinter on dirt and synthetic.
#9-EXECUTIVE ORDER: Maryland-bred blew away sales-restricted maidens at Saratoga in his Aug. 31 debut by 7-3/4 lengths for Phil Serpe. $18,000 bargain buy by Unified, who won the Bay Shore, Peter Pan and Gulfstream Park Sprint in a 4-for-7 career. Jose Lezcano rides back for Phil Serpe.
#10-CHANCER McPATRICK: Likely favorite rallied to win both starts this summer at Saratoga, including the Grade 1 Hopeful despite a terrible trip (pictured above). Trainer Chad Brown is a 4-time Champagne winner (’16, ’18, ’21, ’22), teaming with Flavien Prat two years ago with Blazing Sevens. McKinzie colt cost $725K at Ocala in April and has paid quick dividends despite problematic issues starting races.
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