Tipsheet: Champagne Stakes 2021

A fantastic field of six two-year-olds will travel one-mile on the Belmont Park main strip in Saturday’s $500,000 Champagne S. (G1). The winner of the top event for the youngsters will earn a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar on November 5 in the “Win and You’re In” contest. The top four finishers will also earn points on a 10-4-2-1 scale in the 2022 Road to the Kentucky Derby series endeavor.

Champagne Stakes Picks

• #3 Jack Christopher
• #1 Wit
• #2 My Prankster
• #5 Gunite

Champagne Stakes Wagers

• $15 Exacta 3 with 1,2,5
• $2 Superfecta Key 3 with 1,2,5

Champagne Stakes Contenders

#1 WIT dominated his first two fields by 14 combined lengths prior to a runner-up showing in the Hopeful S. (G1) most recently. Practical Joke colt broke slowly last time and was clear in second while racing against a speed bias, and he looms large with his best for Pletcher. Irad will be in the stirrups.

#2 MY PRANKSTER is the second from the Pletcher shedrow and was much the best in his dynamic 10-length romp on debut at Saratoga. The $600,000 son of Into Mischief is bred to get this trip with ease, and if his initial offering was any indication, then he will prosper with the added ground on Saturday. Saez rides.

#3 JACK CHRISTOPHER ran to his 11-10 odds at first asking when decimating his opposition on Travers Day. Chad Brown pupil showed big pace and a devastating kick on that occasion, and he has trained forwardly in the interim with a trio of solid moves on the local course. Jose Ortiz will be in the silks and forcing the action from the start atop the son of Munnings.

#4 KAVOD appears to be the outsider in the field for Chapman. The Tremont S. runner-up has been dusted in two straight and would be a major surprise in a sensational field of prospects.

#5 GUNITE led throughout in a dominant Hopeful S. (G1) score for Asmussen. Speedy son of fine young sire Gun Runner has improved his Brisnet Speed number in every career race to date, and he will be dead-fit for his route debut with five races to his credit already. Winchell homebred will have regular pilot Santana up.

#6 COMMANDPERFORMANCE makes his second start following a closing second-place result at Saratoga on debut. The third Pletcher trainee in the field gets a good draw outside of a compact group, and he could be any kind after enduring an awful voyage over a muddy, sealed course at first asking. The $220,000 son of Union Rags will have a strong tempo to rally into beneath Gaffalione.