Tipsheet: 2025 Champagne Stakes

A talented field of nine juveniles will vie in Saturday’s $500,000 Champagne S. (G1) at Aqueduct. The 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier will reward the top five finishers with qualifying points on a 10-5-3-2-1 structure. It also serves as a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on Oct. 31.

Champagne Stakes Picks

• #6 It’s Our Time 
• #9 Talkin
• #8 Napoleon Solo 

Champagne Stakes Wagers

• $20 to win on #6 It’s Our Time
• $10 exacta: 6 with 8,9
• $3 trifecta: box 6,8,9

Champagne Stakes Contenders

#1 CURTAIN CALL: Casse trainee was a dominant maiden winner at Saratoga two back prior to checking in third in the subsequent Hopeful S. (G1). The $325,000 son of Tiz the Law gets a nice draw on the rail for the tilt and might move forward with move ground to work with on Saturday. Ricardo Sanatana, Jr. has the assignment. 

#2 STRADALE: $1.3 million juvenile buy led into the stretch and just missed in the maiden ranks last time out for Steve Asmussen. Bay son of Yaupon could be the one to catch at the top of the lane with Manny Franco in the silks. 

#3 UNIVERSE: McPeek's second timer put in a bold run in the lane to graduate at first asking at The Spa and has a bright future. The $75,000 son of Global Campaign has posted a trio of morning drills in the interim and will be doing his best work late with Christopher Elliot on board. 

#4 AYE EYE: The $45,000 two-year-old buy was a late-running victor in his debut upstate and was fifth in the Hopeful S. (G1) in his second appearance. Essential Quality gray will be making one run from well off the early pace with Samuel Marin accepting the mount. 

#5 JUST ASAP: Second from the Casse shedrow just missed in the Sapling S. at Monmouth in his second career endeavor and has top-three appeal under Geroux. The son of good young sire Maxfield is capable at the distance and could grab a share with another move in the right direction. 

#6 IT’S OUR TIME: Smashing debut winner ran off by a sensational 17 3/4 lengths in his unveiling for Tom Amoss and is clearly the one to beat in his second assignment. The $425,000 son of Not This Time has posted a trio of morning drills coming off of his score, and the added ground will be to his benefit, as well. January foal will be imposing with a repeat of his last run under Saez. 

#7 STICKUPWITHOUTAGUN: New York-bred colt appreciated the move to the main oval in his second performance when graduating for McPeek. The McKinzie colt goes from six panels to one mile in this one, and he could be in the mix late to challenge for a minor award beneath Rivera. 

#8 NAPOLEON SOLO: The Chad Summers trainee was a sharp debut winner while taking money at Saratoga and is one of the major threats to the favorite in the contest. The gray son of Liam’s Map is bred to thrive at the trip and comes in with three bullet drills in succession, as well. Joel Rosario inherits the ride. 

#9 TALKIN: Danny Gargan pupil rallied in the lane to corral a clear one late in a game debut score at Saratoga on Aug. 30. The $600,000 son of Good Magic gets a clear draw on the outside for his local bow, and I expect him to appreciate the added ground on Saturday, too. Carmouche stays in the silks.