2011 Champagne (G1)

I loved this race
I was there
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Date/Track:
10/8/2011, Belmont Park
Post Time:
5:20 PM ET
Distance:
1 mile (Dirt)
Age/Sex:
2 M
Time:
1:35.55

What the Nation is saying about the 2011 Champagne (G1)...

The choice to be made is who will be crowned a Champion, and as of now, the nation would seem to be completely split. Those on the side of the son of Dixie Union claim that if not for running 78ft more and a very green run down the stretch he would be 4 for 4. Those stand in Hansen’s corner point to...Read More
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  • icyhotboo · @cugel the clever- Thankfully the dogma you espouse is not used as evidenced by the crowning of Zenyatta. Give it to the best horse, Union Rags! · 182 days ago ·
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  • cugel the clever · @icyhotboo - note my use of the word "should" instead of "is". the award is usually given based on fan passion, the looks of the horse, the lobbying of the owners, etc. actual results and accomplishments are far down the list of criteria. that's why Z won HOY in 2010 and why UR will probably win 3yo in 2011. sad but true - same thing happens in elections. · 182 days ago ·
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The emergence Union Rags, Hansen, and Creative Cause could mean one of the more interesting Breeders' Cup Juveniles in years...Read More
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  • Horseracingirl · I really love Union Rags. I like Hasen, but yesterday, Majestic City (my fav!) ran the same distance 3 seconds faster then Hansen. He is visually impressive, but I'm not impressed by his times. · 232 days ago ·
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  • Winplacsho · Of the 3 I would slightly lean toward Union Rags over Creative Cause because he looked so visually impressive despite all the traffic trouble. I think the book is still out on Hansen. Its good that he's been 2 turns, but he's never been on dirt & who knows what type of horses he was beating. · 230 days ago ·
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Caught behind horses with less than 300 yards to go, favored Union Rags abruptly changed course in mid-stretch and went on to an imposing 5 ¼-length victory in Saturday afternoon’s 140th running of the Grade 1, $300,000 Champagne at Belmont Park.   The Champagne victory, Union Rags’ third in as...Read More
On a fabulous day of racing throughout the country, no one had had a better day than My Miss Aurelia and her veteran jockey, Corey Nakatani. In fact you could say it was a perfect day for the pair. My Miss Aurelia received a perfect front running ride from Nakatani to win the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes...Read More
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  • BrianAppleton · Very impressive riding...and how great was My Miss Aurelia? Excellent win! · 233 days ago ·
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  • waya · Nakatani has six winners at Belmont? Who woulda thunk it! · 233 days ago ·
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West side 2 year olds are by far doing the best this year. I mean, Weemissfrankle won Del Mar Dubutante and Oak Leaf, and Creative Cause, with the Best Pal, 2nd in Del Mar FUturity, and a win in the Norfolk.
Two year olds at this time are pretty much the same. They can run a dynamite race today and not run tomorrow. Toughest races to handicap are the two year olds. too many variables. Have been around race horses for a long time as an owner, and have always had some disappointment with two yr. olds. very fragile stage of their development. too not get to wild about any of them. Just like little children. Fine today, and sick tomorrow.
Will racing’s next super star come from Saturday's Champagne?Read More
  • brooklyn.steve · Speightscity gets my vote. I think that win was legit, and I think this race sets up nicely for him. As you pointed out, the cut back will only help. Nice breakdown of the race. · 236 days ago ·
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  • DeadHeat · Speight IMO is the horse for Union to watch, not alpha. He ran very big over a very tring and very slow track. For a two year old to run in a race 9f that early is different and good. Could the competition have been weak? Yes, it is a strong possibility. However, if the colt is good enough the 9f foundation he has will give him a big edge over those, like Union Rags who are stretching out. · 235 days ago ·
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I like No Spin here!
One year ago, maiden winner Uncle Mo notched his first stakes victory in Belmont Park’s Grade 1 Champagne en route to his triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and eventual Champion 2-Year-Old Male honors.   Saturday, a solid group of similarly minded juveniles will line up for the 141st runnin...Read More
Promising 2YO B Shanny has a bone chip and is out of the Champagne and done for the year.  
Alpha drilled a five furlong bullet in :59.88 at Belmont on Oct 3rd. He runs in the Champagne Stakes on Saturday.   
On October 8, Belmont Park will present a pair of one-mile, Grade 1 races for 2-year-olds, the Champagne and Frizette, and trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will have strong representation in both races. In the Champagne, McLaughlin will run Alpha, while in the Frizette for fillies, the trainer will send ou...Read More
Promising 2-year-old colt Fire On Ice suffered a non-displaced condylar fracture in his left hind leg and will be out the rest of the year, trainer and co-owner John Kimmel said Thursday. A gray son of Unbridled's Song, Fire On Ice won his debut on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course by 10 ¾ lengths, ...Read More
With an eye on the sky, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin elected to have Mill House’s Trappe Shot breeze one day early, with the 4-year-old posting a 49.45 four-furlong breeze Friday on the training track.Read More
Highly regarded juvenile Alpha breezed 4f in :49.53 at Belmont Park (training track) on 9-21. The Oct 8 Champagne is next.     
Stonewall Farm’s homebred B Shanny will be pointed toward the Grade 1, $300,000 Champagne on October 9 at Belmont Park off his powerful front-running score in a maiden special weight race Saturday at the Spa, trainer Michael Hushion said.   Under jockey Ramon Dominguez in a field of 12, the 2-y...Read More

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