Into Champagne ends layoff with Glitter Woman triumph

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - She may not have been fully cranked up for her return from a near seven-month layoff, but even at less than 100% Into Champagne was more than good enough to keep her record unblemished when rallying to a popular and very professional 1 1/4-length victory over Launch in the $100,000 Glitter Woman Stakes on a sealed and sloppy track Sunday at Gulfstream Park.

Into Champagne had not started since winning her career debut by 6 3/4 lengths at Ellis Park on June 16 with jockey Julien Leparoux aboard for trainer Ian Wilkes. And Leparoux was more than willing to make the trip to South Florida from Oaklawn Park, where he is riding regularly this winter, to be back aboard the talented 3-year-old filly again in the six-furlong Glitter Woman. .

Breaking from the rail, Into Champagne settled into a nice striking position while saving ground behind the early leaders. Leparoux waited patiently for a hole to open for the 3-5 favorite around the bend before seizing the opportunity to split horses when launching his bid into the stretch, readily overtook the pacesetting Let Them Watch nearing the furlong marker, and quickly pulled clear.

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Launch raced forwardly placed while wide throughout, joined the leaders in early stretch, but proved no match for the winner, continuing on willingly to prove second-best. Kissedbyanangel finished best of all after dropping far back following a bit of an eventful beginning, then galloped out strongest of all after the wire.

Into Champagne, a daughter of Into Mischief, completed the distance in 1:11.58 over the wet going and paid $3.40.

Wilkes said he was delighted that Leparoux saw fit to make the journey from Arkansas to keep his regular seat aboard the promising Into Champagne for the Glitter Woman.

“I’m all about developing horses and I like to use riders who’ll stay with the horse,” Wilkes said. “Julien was quite happy, wanted to stay with her, and he was willing to come down, so that was the thing.”

And after her performance in the Glitter Woman, Leparoux is not likely to stray too far from Into Champagne no matter where he has to go to continue to ride her as the year progresses.

““Ian told me she’s probably not 100% (fit) so to save a little bit for the finish,” Leparoux said. “She relaxed good and when I found the hole, she went through. She kind of looked around a little bit at the end, but she’s a nice filly. If she comes back like we think she will, she’s going to be nice this year.”

If all goes according to plan, Leparoux will likely return to Gulfstream Park to pair up with Into Champagne again in the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Forward Gal on Feb. 3.

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