Gargan thinks Talkin can give It's Our Time a run for his money in Champagne

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Danny Gargan sent out a couple of good-looking 2-year-old colts to debut victories at Saratoga this summer and, at one time, both were being considered for starts in graded stakes this fall.

But Golden Tornado, whose race has since produced three next-out winners, has been sidelined with bucked shins, so Talkin will carry the banner for Gargan and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Champagne, which offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, drew a field of nine led by It’s Our Time, a 17 3/4-length debut winner at Saratoga.

Talkin, a son of 2017 champion 2-year-old Good Magic, won his debut at Saratoga on Aug. 30, overcoming some immaturity – he veered in upper stretch and was late to change leads – to run down the second-time starter Stradale by a neck.

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“He ran green, thought he put in a big effort, thought we beat a really good horse that day,” Gargan said. “Obviously, [It’s Our Time] will be a big favorite, but at some stage, [Talkin] is going to entertain him late. He wants to run longer than a mile, but it was either run here or run at Keeneland against Ted Noffey. I’ll take my chances here.”

Ted Noffey, the Grade 1 Hopeful winner, is running in Saturday’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

Though Gargan won 2-year-old races with first-timers Golden Tornado and the filly Iron Orchard, he wasn’t sure Talkin was going to be ready to win at first asking.

“He’s a really laid-back, relaxed type horse, and I thought he would need one. And he’s a two-turn horse, he’s not a sprinter,” Gargan said. “He broke really good that day. I told Kendrick [Carmouche], ‘He’s going to break fast, do not go.’ If he doesn’t win, that’s okay, it’s not the end of the world.”

Talkin, who again will be ridden by Carmouche, drew the outside post in the nine-horse field. It’s Our Time, trained by Tom Amoss, drew post 6 and will be favored coming off his 17 3/4-length victory.

The remainder of the Champagne field includes Curtain Call, third in the Hopeful, Just Asap, second in the Sapling at Monmouth, Napoleon Solo, Aye Eye, Stickupwithoutagun, Universe, and Stradale.

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