BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Third in the Grade 3 Matron versus fillies on the inner turf at Belmont Park last time, More Champagne appears primed for her first stakes victory as the lone female in Saturday’s $175,000 Awad on the Widener Turf Course at Belmont. The Florida-bred filly trained by Thomas Morley is among nine 2-year-olds entered to race six furlongs.
While missing by less than three lengths behind winner Brickyard Belle in the Matron, More Champagne earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure for the six furlongs on grass, which is tops in the Award field.
More Champagne began her career with an eye-catching, six-and-a-half-length triumph versus maiden special weight fillies on the sod at Keeneland in April then traveled overseas for a straight five-furlongs on the grass at Royal Ascot in the Group 2 Queen Mary on June 17. She ran with the leaders for the first half-mile but was bumped late, dropping back to come in nineteenth of 27 fillies.
She returned stateside for the $200,000 Bolton Landing (Listed) for fillies racing five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass at Saratoga on August 26, finishing fifth after hitting the gate at the start. The Matron has been her only race since.
More Champagne has earned $69,386 in her four starts for owners StarLadies Racing, West Paces Racing, Titletown Stables and U Racing Stables. StarLadies Racing and U Racing Stables purchased her for $100,000 out of the Blue River Bloodstock consignment of Sergio Centeno at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale.
Bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon of Morriston, More Champagne is by leading first crop sire Golden Pal out of winner Wildcat Gaze, by Wildcat Heir.
She has drawn post two and will be ridden by Edgard Zayas, who guided her in the Matron.
Trainer Brad Cox will saddle Titan Ready, who in his fourth try won a six-and-a-half furlong maiden special weight on the inner turf at Belmont on September 19. The son of Title Ready was second in all three previous races including the first two on synthetic at Woodbine. He debuted in a five-and-a-half-furlong maiden special weight in June then was a head shy of winner Uncle Dodo in the US$128,000 Victoria at the same distance in July.
The dark bay or brown son of Title Ready was next a runner-up to Wood Island in the $200,000 Skidmore going five-and-a-half furlongs on the grass at Saratoga Race Course on August 27.
Manny Franco will ride Titan Ready from post five.
Others entered are Just Joe with Flavien Prat aboard, Ruben Silvera takes the reins on Metallican, Riyadh Way will have jockey Heriberto Figueroa, Javier Castellano teams with Reza, McMoon will have Christopher Elliot up, Jean Gregor Briceno has the riding assignment on Moneta Agenda and Arctic Wolf will have Kendrick Carmouche in the irons.
Return to the November 12 issue of Wire to Wire
