The Champagne Stakes
There are plenty of stakes to choose from this Saturday and there is no shortage of Breeders’ Cup implications. The Champagne has implications beyond the Breeders’ Cup and into who may be the top three year olds next year.
J J Zo Zo goes from the rail in this one turn mike race. I don’t love the post and he looks a little slow for me against these. Pass.
Tip Top Thomas is interesting. He had a fast and game debut at Saratoga and I love the Volatile babies and we know how fast he was. This colt should go forward and should not have any trouble with the one turn mile.
Lethal Speed ships in off a winning race at Gulfstream against what appears to be lesser. He would have to run faster against better going longer to win. Another pass for me.
Mo Plex has done nothing wrong yet. He is three for three and now is being asked to go a mile. He has experience and is tough in the stretch but I am not sold he will be as good going this far as he was sprinting.
Uncaged had an impressive win in the mud at Saratoga while going wide. He looks like a player in here but is not where I land.
Vekoma had a nice debut win over the track and stretches out off of it. He looks good but not as good as a few of the others in here.
Smoken Wicked has some experience and is getting better. That said he looks a cut below at least a few of these in my book.
Colonel Bob would have to improve more then I see him doing to take this even if he gets better on the stretch out.
Executive Order comes off a nice debut at Saratoga. He has a chance to be this good but I’ll let him prove it.
Chancer McPatrick is perfectly drawn outside and was dead game coming off the pace and passing horses in both his Saratoga starts and wins. The one tien mile looks perfect and one of these one time winners would have to be special to beat him. Tip Top Thomas has my respect and attention but I think Chancer McPatrick runs them down again.
We have plenty of coverage of the Breeders’ Cup and more coming your way. Enjoy the races and win the photos.
