The 2023 Champagne Stakes Tipsheet

A total of eight juveniles will travel the one-turn mile at Aqueduct on Saturday in the $500,000 Champagne S. (G1). The "Win and You’re In” challenge series race will provide the victor with a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita on Nov. 3. 

Champagne Stakes Picks

• #6 Fierceness
• #4 General Partner
• #3 Timberlake
• #1 Air Cav

Champagne Stakes Wagers

• $40 exacta: 6 with 4
• $10 exacta: 6 with 1, 3
• $10 trifecta: 6 with 4 with 1, 3

Champagne Stakes Contenders

#1 AIR CAV: Calumet color bearer was a game debut winner at Indiana going short and intrigues in a route try with much better in this spot. The chestnut son of Mitole gave the impression of a horse who will like going long, and the Brad Cox trainee shows a trio of good morning moves leading up to this event with Dylan Davis signed on for the ride.  

#2 DANCING GROOM: Antonio Sano pupil romped home a facile winner in an off-the-turf tilt at Saratoga in his second lifetime try and has exotics appeal. The $60,000 son of Vino Rosso didn’t beat much in his victory, but he looked good in doing so, and the chestnut will make some noise late with improvement on this occasion. Trevor McCarthy will be in the silks.

#3 TIMBERLAKE: The $350,000 son of Into Mischief finished second in the recent Hopeful S. (G1) and makes a lot of sense as the second Brad Cox trainee in the race. The bay colt has been favored in each career outing to date and could have value while making his route debut with Florent Geroux in the silks. 

#4 GENERAL PARTNER: The Speightstown colt romped to a superb maiden win when registering a hefty 101 Brisnet Speed number most recently for Chad Brown. The main threat to the favorite shows a trio of good morning drills in the interim, and he is a top-three must-use with Manny Franco retaining the ride.

#5 EL GRANDE O: Accomplished two-year-old will face open foes following a pair of stakes outings with New York-breds for trainer Linda Rice. The speedy son of Take Charge Indy might be the one to run down turning for home, but he must prove himself at the distance first before I can back the dark bay colt. Kendrick Carmouche will be in the stirrups. 

#6 FIERCENESS: Todd Pletcher pupil was arguably the most impressive juvenile at the Saratoga meeting following his daylight romp on debut. The City of Light colt shows four solid morning drills in advance of his stakes bow, and anything resembling his first appearance will make him especially tough to upend in this contest. The Repole homebred will be prominent throughout with Irad Ortiz Jr. staying in the silks. 

#7 GOLD SWEEP: Tremont S. victor never fired in the Hopeful S. (G1) and is a bit of a question mark going one mile on this oval, as well. The talented son of Speightstown has displayed a nice turn of foot sprinting and will be a danger if he can carry his ability to this distance with Jose Lezcano in the stirrups.

#8 SWEET SODDY J: Outsider in the field draws widest of all and looks to be in a tough spot while making his New York debut. The Ray Ginter trainee is 2-for-2 on the dirt against much lesser, and he would be a surprise on this day with Jose Gomez riding.