BY BROCK SHERIDAN

More Champagne drew even with odds-on favorite Shining Moment at the top of the stretch then kicked clear to win a $69,210 maiden special weight at Keeneland Friday. Trained by Thomas Morely, the bay daughter of Florida-bred Golden Pal was the best of five 2-year-old fillies racing five-and-a-half furlongs on the firm turf course.

Shining Moment was pressured by Extravaganzo through a :21.26 quarter mile as Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez allowed More Champagne to settle two lengths back in third. Shining Moment separated around the turn when More Champagne began to close the gap along the inside, swinging to the two-path to go head and head with the leader at the top of the stretch. More Champagne put away Shining Moment inside the final furlong and won by six-and-a-half lengths under a hand ride from Velazquez to finish in 1:03.38.

Shining Moment was second, 10 ¾ lengths ahead of Zarzuela in third followed by Mallet Lady and Extravaganzoo.

More Champagne paid $15.24 to win.

Owned by StarLadies Racing, U Racing Stables and Titletown Racing Stables, More Champagne earned $37,386 plus a $3,000 Export Incentive check for breeders Helen and Joseph Barbazon of Morriston, Florida. Export Incentives are paid directly by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association to the breeders of Florida-breds who win maiden special weights,  allowance races and stakes run outside of Florida.

More Champaign is out of Wildcat Gaze, by Wildcat Heir and last month was a $100,000 purchase by StarLadies Racing and U Racing Stable at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale where she was consigned by Sergio Centeno’s Blue River Bloodstock.

Return to the April 24 issue of Wire to Wire