Pass the Champagne perfectly chilled for return
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – In excruciating fashion, the connections of Pass the Champagne missed out on the traditional post-race champagne toast following the Ashland Stakes last April at Keeneland.
“Oh it was a tough beat, no question,” said her trainer, George Weaver.
Making just her third career start, Pass the Champagne held the lead to the bitter end of the Grade 1 Ashland, only to be nipped on the wire by Malathaat. All in all, it was an effort of great promise, but after finishing a distant 12th behind the victorious Malathaat in the Kentucky Oaks nearly four weeks later, Pass the Champagne “came up with a couple of issues, and unfortunately we had to miss the rest of her 3-year-old year,” Weaver said. “It was a shame because she’s so talented.”
Thursday at Gulfstream Park marks the beginning of the comeback trail for Pass the Champagne when she faces nine other fillies and mares in the eighth of nine races, a $61,000, first-level allowance at seven furlongs. Leading jockey Luis Saez has the mount from post 8.
Weaver hardly could be more enthused about what the future may hold for a 4-year-old Flatter filly owned by a four-way partnership that includes longtime client Randy Hill.
“I’m not worried about how fit she is – she’s fit and ready to run,” said Weaver, referring to a series of seven timed workouts since early December at his Palm Beach Downs winter headquarters. “She’s not the quickest filly out of the gate, so she’ll have a little ground to make up.
“It’s time for her to get started. She’s got tons and tons of ability. I really feel like she’s a Grade 1-caliber horse. She’s got one out there with her name on it, so we’ll see what happens.”
If Pass the Champagne, the 8-5 morning-line favorite, isn’t quite sharp enough off the nine-month layoff, this race could go any number of ways. Only Kidding (post 7, Irad Ortiz Jr.) was a last-out maiden winner going six furlongs over the local surface, while Midnight Ballerina (post 9, Jose Ortiz) was second for this same condition Jan. 7 going a mile in her second try off a lengthy layoff. Psychic Ability, Mona Stella, and Battle Cry all have a little something going for them, too.
The feature is part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 4-9), which had a brand-new jackpot Wednesday after being emptied Sunday by forceout. First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern, with the eighth going at 4:11.
Following a chilly Pegasus weekend, temperatures in this area were trending upward. Mostly sunny skies and a high of 78 are in the forecast for Thursday, when all three turf races (2, 6, 9) figure to be run as scheduled.