The absence of Forte opens door for others in Champagne
Forte, the Grade 1 Hopeful winner, was not entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes as expected, leaving the one-mile race for 2-year-olds a bit more wide open.
It was unclear why Forte was held out of the race. The Breeders’ Futurity, a two-turn race at Keeneland on Oct. 8, could be a back-up plan.
Without Forte in the race, favoritism figures to be up for grabs between Gulfport and Verifying.
Gulfport has been the beaten favorite in both the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and Grade 1 Hopeful, where he finished second to Forte in the slop. He finished nine lengths clear of Blazing Sevens, also in this field.
Verifying, a half-brother to Midnight Bisou by Justify, won the 2-year-old maiden race run on Travers Day at Saratoga. Champions Dream, also a son of Justify and trained by Danny Gargan, won his debut on the final weekend of the Saratoga meet. First-out Saratoga maiden winners to come back and win the Champagne in their second start include last year’s winner Jack Christopher as well as Complexity and Uncle Mo.
Andiamo a Firenze, a half-brother to 2017 Champagne winner Firenze Fire, drew the rail. Outside of him in post order are Top Recruit, Verifying, Champions Dream, Blazing Sevens and Gulfport.
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