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Champagne Stakes

How to bet the Champagne at Belmont

Expert Pick for the Champagne by Dick Powell

• Top Picks for the Breeders' Futurity
  • #4 Three Technique
  • #3 Green Light Go
  • #1 Alpha Sixty Six
  • #7 Tiz The Law
• Breeders' Futurity Bet
  • $50 Win
    • #4
  • $25 Exacta Box
    • #3, #4

Most recent running of the Champagne

The Champagne Stakes popped a new question: could he harness that speed effectively over a mile, against much deeper competition? Complexity once again blasted to the lead and never looked back en route to earning 10 Derby points. His final time for the Champagne was a sharp 1:34.63, worth a 99 BRIS Speed rating.

Unlike his first race, however, a rival was gaining late to reduce his winning margin. Code of Honor, last early after stumbling at the break, finished fast, and Complexity’s advantage shrank from five to three lengths at the wire.

Champagne Stakes and Kentucky Derby Winners

There have been zero instances in which the Champagne Stakes winner went on to win the Kentucky Derby in the same year. However, there have been instances in which a Champagne Stakes winner has gone onto win the Kentucky Derby in other years:

• Seattle Slew: 1976 Champagne Stakes, 1977 Triple Crown
• Count Fleet: 1942 Champagne Stakes, 1943 Triple Crown
• Riva Ridge: 1971 Champagne Stakes, 1972 Kentucky Derby
• Foolish Pleasure: 1974 Champagne Stakes, 1975 Kentucky Derby
• Spectacular Bid: 1978 Champagne Stakes, 1979 Kentucky Derby

Champagne Stakes Winners and Breeders’ Cup Winners

There have been five instances in which the Champagne Stakes winner went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in the same year:

• Fly So Free (1990)
• Timber Country (1994)
• War Pass (2007)
• Uncle Mo (2010)
• Shanghai Bobby (2012)

Champagne Stakes Records

The biggest margin of victory at the Champagne Stakes is 9 3/4 lengths.

The record for fastest time at the Champagne Stakes at its current 1-mile distance is 1:32.20. Two horses hold the Champagne Stakes speed record: Seattle Slew (1976) and Devil’s Bag (1983).

The record for most Champagne Stakes wins by a jockey is five, set by Braulio Baeza (1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1975). The record for most Champagne Stakes wins by a trainer is six, set by Todd Pletcher (2004, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014). The record for most Champagne Stakes wins by an owner is five, set by Calumet Farm (1933, 1936, 1944, 1949, 1977).

Champagne Stakes Race History

Inaugurated in 1867, the Champagne Stakes is a grade one level horserace for two-year-olds (open to both fillies and colts), and is considered the oldest race in the United States of its kind. It is held annually in October at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York (since 1905) and is contested at a distance of 1 mile (8 furlongs) on a dirt surface, left-handed track. Even though the Champagne Stakes welcomes both colts and fillies, it’s mainly colts who participate—fillies compete in the Frizette Stakes.

The Champagne Stakes is part of both the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series and the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” prep race circuit. The winner of the Champagne Stakes earns an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and also earns 10 “Road to the Kentucky Derby” qualifying points.

Champagne Stakes Past Winners

• The 2018 Champagne Stakes
  • REILLY: Road to the Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Champagne winner Complexity
  • REILLY: Kentucky Derby Pedigree Profile: Champagne winner Complexity
• The 2017 Champagne Stakes
  • Well priced contender Firenze Fire won the 2017 Champagne Stakes at odds of 11-1 (10-1 morning line) at Belmont Park. Accompanying his $24 win payout, were second choice Good Magic and 7-1 value Enticed (also 10-1 morning line). The top three earned points of 10-4-2 toward the Kentucky Derby.