All Systems Go in Champagne Stakes
By: Laurie Ross, IMTBreds
The Champagne Stakes is the final leg of a trio of graded
stakes for 2-year-old-colts over the dirt in New York; the other two are the
Sanford and Hopeful. The winner will earn a spot in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Colts.
The one-mile race drew seven colts.
The Favorite
GREEN LIGHT GO (Hard Spun - Light Green, by Pleasantly Perfect) is one of
the best 2-year-olds in the country. After winning his debut by 3 1/4-lengths,
the Jimmy Jerkens trainee won the Saratoga Special (G2) by 3 3/4-lengths. Colts
from both races have returned to flatter Green Light Go by earning
blacktype.
Hoping to Upset
THREE
TECHNIQUE (Mr Speaker - Nite in Rome, by
Harlan's Holiday) placed second his second start, 1 1/4-lengths behind by
eventual Hopeful (G1) winner Basin. Three Technique put it together in his last
outing, overwhelming maidens by 5 1/2- lengths when he stretched out to seven
furlongs. The Jeremiah Englehart trainee
earned the highest late pace speed figure in the field (101). Three Technique’s last two works have been strong.
TIZ THE LAW (Constitution - Tizfiz, by Tiznow) proved to be too good
for state-breds, winning his 6 1/2-furlong debut by 4 1/2-lengths. Now the Barclay
Tagg trainee steps into Grade 1 company. Tiz the Law has a series of solid
breezes, including two bullet works.
ALPHA SIXTY SIX (Liam's Map - Giant Sensation, by Giant's Causeway)
had a wide trip in his 6 1/2-furlong debut. He caught and battled with the
leader, and out-gamed that one by a neck. The Pletcher trainee recorded a
series of bullets leading up to the Champagne.
GOZILLA (Flatter – Atlantic Dream, by Stormy Atlantic) After
running away from a field of overmatched maidens in his debut, Gozilla mixed it
up early on the front end in the Hopeful, but couldn’t sustain his speed. None
of them were a match for Baisn, and Gozilla wound up third, beaten a neck for
second place. The Steve Asmussen trainee boasts a second-to-last bullet 5F 1:00.90.
Logical Longshot
BIG CITY BOB (Shanghai Bobby - Southern Accents, by Birdstone) is
getting no respect despite winning the Sapling Stakes at Monmonth. He’s
won two of three starts. Granted, he barely squeaked by in both, by a grand total
of a nose and neck, but that just shows his willingness to win…and his luck in
photo finishes. Jorge Duarte, Jr.’s charge is capable of settling behind the
pace or setting it. He’s recorded a
series of slow works.
The Why Horse
TRUCULENT (Raison d'Etat - Raver, by Tiznow) is still a maiden. He
just missed in his last, a mile turf event at Ellis Park, by a slim head.
Distance is his friend, and he logged a bullet 4F :47.20 at Keeneland. But in a
field filled with 90+ speed figures, he’s a 73.
This is the time of year when
2-year-olds can improve seemingly overnight. Green Light Go is the one to beat,
but he isn’t a lock by no means. Any one of these can jump up and run a winning
race.
Selections
#3 GREEN LIGHT GO (8/5)
#1 ALPHA SIXTY SIX (5/1)
#4 THREE TECHNIQUE (7/2)
#6 BIG CITY BOB (20/1)
No comments:
Post a Comment