Napoleon Solo works for Champagne
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Napoleon Solo, a 5 1/4-length debut winner of a six-furlong maiden race at Saratoga on Aug. 8, worked a half-mile in 47.47 seconds Friday morning over the Belmont Park training track in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Champagne at Aqueduct on Oct. 4.
Napoleon Solo, working by himself after the second renovation break, went in splits of 11.94 and 23.15 seconds before galloping out five furlongs in 1:00.75. It was his second straight bullet work at Belmont following a bullet at Saratoga on Aug. 31.
“We know he’s a fast horse who works fast,” trainer Chad Summers said. “I like how he gallops out. Obviously, stretching out from three-quarters of a mile [to a mile] is the first question, but I think we’re all pretty much in the same boat. Some of us went seven furlongs, but we’re all in that same kind of conversation.”
Napoleon Solo, a son of Liam’s Map, came from just off the pace to win his debut. His final time of 1:11.14 was 1.50 seconds faster than the other division run that day, which was won by Aye Eye.
“I thought he ran very, very professionally,” Summers said. “He still has some maturing to do. He was playing around with the pony, but he broke out of the gate well, put himself in a good spot.”
Summers said Joel Rosario will ride Napoleon Solo. Kendrick Carmouche, who rode Napoleon Solo in his debut win, is committed to riding Talkin for trainer Danny Gargan in the Champagne.
Others pointing to the Champagne, which awards its winner a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar, includes impressive debut winner It’s Our Time, Curtain Call, Just Asap, Stickupwithoutagun, and Universe.
Meanwhile, Summers said he is strongly considering the Breeders’ Cup Distaff for Cotillion runner-up Dry Powder. Summers said he and owner Al Gold will watch the last round of preps for that race – Friday’s Grade 2 Beldame Stakes at Aqueduct, Sunday’s Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita, and next weekend’s Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland – before making a a final decision.
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