Gunite gunning for second Grade 1 win in Champagne Stakes
By: Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power
The one-mile event is an excellent benchmark of Breeders’ Cup form. Seven of the last ten Champagne winners competed in the Juvenile, and five of them hit the board.
Uncle Mo (2010) and Shanghai Bobby (2012) completed the Champagne/Breeders’ Cup double and earned year-end honors as champion 2-year-olds.
This year, Todd Pletcher stacked the deck, nominating three of the six entries, including Sanford Stakes (G2) winner Wit.
The Champagne Stakes is carded as race 8 of eleven at Belmont Park. Post time is 4:40 PM ET, and the track should be fast.
Todd Pletcher’s bid for his sixth Champagne victory since 2010 could be foiled by Steve Asmussen’s 5. Gunite (4-1), who handed Wit his only loss in the Hopeful Stakes (G1). Asmussen won last year’s Champagne Stakes with Jackie’s Warrior.
1. Wit (2-1) had a nightmare trip in the Hopeful. He stumbled at the start and had to make a sustained drive to get into contention in the stretch. The son of 2016 Champagne winner Practical Joke was clearly tired, but his class kept him in second place, three lengths in front of third-place finisher Kevin’s Folly.
Wit drew the rail in the Champagne and was installed as the 2-1 favorite, while Gunite will break from post five and has morning-line odds of 4-1.
2. My Prankster (9-5) enters the Champagne Stakes off an eye-catching ten-length victory against maidens at Saratoga. The race produced next-out winner Cogburn and two runner-up finishes from Seal Beach and Fromanothamutha. My Prankster teamed with Wit for their final Champagne tune-up, getting five furlongs in 1:01.84. Wit, racing on the inside, moved easier while My Prankster was urged to keep pace through the stretch and past the wire.
3. Jack Christopher (9-5) graduated at first asking by 8 3/4 lengths. Although the Chad Brown trainee broke on top, he was content to press a 21.83 first quarter. Jack Christopher eyeballed the pacesetter through a 44.61 half, then opened up, getting five furlongs in 56.77 and six furlongs in 1:09.85. By Munnings out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winning sprinter and sire Street Boss, Jack Christopher is bred for speed, and he owns the field’s highest speed figure of 99. He tuned up for the Champagne with a bullet five-furlong move in 1:00.00.
6. Commandperformance (10-1) didn’t break well in his debut and ate mud through much of the race. But, once the Pletcher trainee saw daylight in the stretch, he took off and gained ground with every stride. The pretty gray son of 2011 Champagne winner Union Rags is out of a stakes-placed Tapit mare and will appreciate the extra distance.
4. Kavod (50-1) wasn’t a happy camper at the Spa on dirt or turf and was thrashed by a combined 35 lengths in both stakes. However, he graduated at Belmont and finished second, beaten 3/4 length in the Tremont. James Chapman gave the son of Lea a second-to-last bullet breeze of five furlongs in 1:00.20. If you like longshots and think Kavod will improve his form now that he’s back at Belmont, here’s your chance.
Analysis
Favorites have finished first or second in eight of the last ten editions of the Champagne. No particular running style is favored. The majority of the Champagne winners since 2010 have carved out careers as sprinter/milers.
The Champagne Stakes may not be as clear-cut as we think. Gunite may go to the front and tangle with the speedy Jack Christopher, giving Wit a chance to get revenge. However, Gunite may have tactical speed since he closed from off the pace in his first two starts. My Prankster could be in the mix and don’t ignore Commandperformance.
5. Gunite (4-1)
1. Wit (2-1)
6. Commandperformance (10-1)
2. My Prankster (5-2)
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