Study Guide: 2024 Champagne Stakes
Oct 02, 2024
Mo Plex winning the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga (Photo by Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)
Some of racing’s greatest horses have won the historic $500,000 Champagne (G1), which is taking place this Saturday at Aqueduct. The roster of winners includes Triple Crown conquerors Count Fleet and Seattle Slew.
A strong 10-horse field has entered the 2024 Champagne, which awards Road to the Kentucky Derby qualification points to the top five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis. Let’s meet the field:
J J Zo Zo
J J Zo Zo wins the Smoke Glacken Stakes at Monmouth Park (Photo By Melissa Torres/EQUI-PHOTO)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 1
Owner: Jose A. Garcia
Breeder: Jose Armando Garcia
Trainer: Jose Sanchez
Jockey: Jorge Ruiz
Top Speed Rating: (92) when breaking his maiden at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $121,593
Sire: Sea Wizard
Dam: Lost Princess
Color: Dark bay/brown
J J Zo Zo was tons the best in the six-furlong Smoke Glacken S. at Monmouth Park last month, leading all the way to win by 8 1/2 lengths. He’s a pacesetting danger while breaking the advantageous rail post; according to Brisnet statistics, horses breaking from post 1 have won 29% of one-mile dirt races at Aqueduct since Sept. 13.
Tip Top Thomas
Tip Top Thomas wins at Saratoga. (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: James J. Bakke and Gerald Isbister
Breeder: Wynnstay, Donna Moore, and Jim Richardson
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Top Speed Rating: (93) when winning his debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $55,000
Sire: Volatile
Dam: Attempt to Name
Color: Chestnut
Tip Top Thomas had to work hard to win his debut sprinting six furlongs at Saratoga in a three-horse photo finish. But his reward was a sharp 93 Brisnet Speed rating, one of the highest numbers in the Champagne field. Trainer Todd Pletcher has won this race a record six times, so Tip Top Thomas must be strongly respected.
Lethal Speed
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Shivananda Parbhoo
Breeder: M. Auerbach and Kantharos Syndicate
Trainer: Shivananda Parbhoo
Jockey: Jose Gomez
Top Speed Rating: (80) when winning his debut at Gulfstream Park.
Total Earnings: $24,000
Sire: Kantharos
Dam: Lethal Legacy
Color: Dark bay/brown
Lethal Speed launched a nice rally to win his debut at Gulfstream Park, but the 80 Brisnet Speed rating he posted looks a little light against the Champagne field.
Mo Plex
Mo Plex winning the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga (Photo by Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)
Start(s): 3
Wins: 3
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: R and H Stable
Breeder: Everything’s Cricket Racing
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Jockey: Manny Franco
Top Speed Rating: (88) when winning his debut at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $247,500
Sire: Complexity
Dam: Mo Joy
Color: Bay
Mo Plex hasn’t tasted defeat in three starts while winning the Sanford (G3) and Funny Cide S. at Saratoga. But his career-best 88 Brisnet Speed rating is a number exceeded by many of the other Champagne entrants.
Uncaged
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: WinStar Farm and Repole Stable
Breeder: WinStar Farm
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning his debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $55,000
Sire: Curlin
Dam: Dark Nile
Color: Bay
Uncaged closed nicely from midfield to win his debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga, earning a 92 Brisnet Speed rating. As a son of Curlin out of a mare by Pioneerof the Nile, Uncaged is bred to relish stretching out over one mile, so this Pletcher trainee has a big chance to factor in the Champagne.
Vekoma Rides
Vekoma Rides wins at Belmont at the Big A (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Chelsea Durand)
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Nedlaw Stable, Denholtz Stables, Dennis A. Drazin, and Jerold L. Zaro
Breeder: Deerfield Farm
Trainer: John Kimmel
Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning his debut at Aqueduct.
Total Earnings: $49,500
Sire: Vekoma
Dam: Happy Now
Color: Chestnut
Vekoma Rides showed an affinity for Aqueduct when dominating his debut by five lengths with a 90 Brisnet Speed rating. He was easing up at the finish and clearly has talent, though his pedigree hints he may prove best as a sprinter.
Smoken Wicked
Smoken Wicked comes in second to Politicallycorrect at Churchill Downs (Photo by Coady Media)
Start(s): 4
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 1
Owner: Valene Farms
Breeder: Tom Curtis and Wayne Simpson
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Dylan Davis
Top Speed Rating: (94) when finishing fourth in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $99,600
Sire: Bobby’s Wicked One
Dam: Street Smoke
Color: Chestnut
Smoken Wicked ran a gallant race as a 31-1 longshot in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga, leading for six furlongs before weakening to finish fourth by 3 1/4 lengths against probable Champagne favorite Chancer McPatrick. But Smoken Wicked is bred like a sprinter, and the Champagne’s one-mile distance may be farther than he wants to run.
Colonel Bob
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: James Morrissey III, Shivaun K. Morrissey, Harry Miller, and Rachel Miller
Breeder: Pope McLean, Pope McLean Jr., and Marc McLean
Trainer: Robert Reid Jr.
Jockey: Mychel Sanchez
Top Speed Rating: (82) when winning his debut at Parx Racing.
Total Earnings: $30,000
Sire: Yorkton
Dam: Honorville
Color: Bay
Colonel Bob was much the best in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Parx, winning by 5 1/4 lengths. But the 82 Brisnet Speed rating he earned is on the low side, and the Champagne competition is tougher.
Executive Order
Executive Order wins at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography)
Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: WellSpring Stables
Breeder: Dark Hollow Farm
Trainer: Philip Serpe
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning his debut at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $44,000
Sire: Unified
Dam: Red’s Round Table
Color: Bay
Executive Order was a dominant debut winner sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs at Saratoga, tracking the pace before taking over to win by 7 3/4 lengths with a 92 Brisnet Speed rating. This bay gelding is yet another lightly raced youngster with the potential to challenge in the Champagne.
Chancer McPatrick
Chancer McPatrick wins the Hopeful S. at Saratoga (Photo by Coglianese Photography / Credit to Susie Raisher)
Start(s): 2
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0
Owner: Flanagan Racing
Breeder: Rigney Racing
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Top Speed Rating: (99) when winning the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $220,000
Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Bernadreamy
Color: Bay
The horse to beat is Chancer McPatrick, who has launched powerful rallies to win his first two starts — including the Hopeful (G1) — in eye-catching fashion. Chancer McPatrick’s pedigree gives no reason to think stretching out over one mile will be an obstacle, especially if he breaks sharply and concedes less ground early on. The expected favorite has every chance to give trainer Chad Brown a fifth Champagne win since 2016.
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