Jackie’s Warrior brings speed to the Champagne; Vequist tops Frizette

Oct 08, 2020 by James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Jackie’s Warrior will put his unbeaten record on the line in the $250,000 Champagne (G1) for 2-year-olds, and Vequist is the one to beat in the $250,000 Frizette (G1) for 2-year-old fillies.

The mile races at Belmont Park are part of the “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup challenge series, awarding berths to the Nov. 6 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland. And both events are qualifiers in the Road to the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks series.

A convincing wire-to-wire winner of the Hopeful (G1) and Saratoga Special (G2), Jackie’s Warrior will stretch to a one-turn mile against five rivals. Steve Asmussen trains the Maclean’s Music colt, and Joel Rosario rides the expected pacesetter.

Reinvestment Risk, an impressive debut maiden winner, is eligible to keep moving forward off a rallying second in the Hopeful. The Upstart colt may appreciate the added ground Saturday, and Irad Ortiz Jr. will be back in the saddle for Chad Brown.

Midnight Bourbon gives Asmussen a pair of contenders. A 5 1/2-lenghmaiden scorer at Ellis Park two back, the Tiznow colt exits a front-running second in the Sept. 5 Iroquois (G3) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. Jose Ortiz has the call.

A nose second in her first start, Vequist shipped from Parx to Saratoga to capture the Sept. 6 Spinaway by a widening 9 1/2-length margin. Butch Reid conditions the dark bay filly from the first crop of 2016 Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, and Luis Saez will be back up on the probable favorite.

Dayoutoftheoffice, who remained unbeaten with a six-length triumph in the July 16 Schuylerville (G3) at Saratoga, will return from a 12-week freshening for Timothy Hamm. Junior Alvarado will be up on the speedy daughter of Into Mischief.

Other runners in the seven-horse field include Cantata, a smashing 10-length winner of her first start at Saratoga on Aug. 16. The Medaglia d’Oro filly cost $950,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, and Rosario will guide for Asmussen.