Shanghai Bobby dazzles in Champagne Stakes

Shanghai Bobby brought his undefeated record to a perfect 4-for-4 when he romped to an easy win in the $400,000 Champagne Stakes (gr. I) this afternoon at Belmont Park, stamping himself as one of the favorites for the prestigious Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) in the process.

With Rosie Napravnik aboard, Shanghai Bobby broke alertly before settling back into the second position as California shipper Goldencents led the way through slow fractions of :23.55 and :47.45 seconds. Archwarrior and Fortify were racing in mid-pack, about two lengths from the front, while Chief Havoc and Micromanage trailed.

As the field made their way around the turn, Shanghai Bobby moved to challenge Goldencents for the lead and gained it just prior to the quarter pole, which he reached in 1:11.21 seconds. From there, the race was over, and Shanghai Bobby coasted home an easy winner by five lengths in the sharp time of 1:35.55 for one mile.

Goldencents held well to finish second, a length clear of Fortify, Archwarrior, Micromanage, and Chief Havoc completed the order of finish.

The winner, a son of Harlan's Holiday out of the Orientate mare Steelin', is trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by Starlight Racing. Prior to the Champagne, he had won the prestigious Hopeful Stakes (gr. II) at Saratoga and the Track Barron Stakes at Belmont Park, which makes him the clear-cut leading two-year-old colt in the country. A victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita in November would guarantee him the Eclipse award for his division.

-Keelerman

Champagne Stakes Entries: Seven promising colts battle for grade I win

Hopeful Stakes (gr. II) winner Shanghai Bobby and Sanford Stakes (gr. II) winner Bern Identity are among a terrific field of seven two-year-old colts entered in the $400,000 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes (gr. I), to be held on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The prestigious one-mile race has been won in recent years by Eclipse champions Uncle Mo (2010) and War Pass (2007), as well as Belmont Stakes (gr. I) winner Union Rags (2011). It is easily one of the most prestigious races for two-year-olds in the country, with the winner routinely becoming one of the early favorites for the following year's Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

Other logical contenders in this deep field include the highly-regarded debut winners Archwarrior, Micromanage, and Goldecents. Hopeful Stakes runner-up Fortify and European shipper Chief Havoc complete the lineup.

Post Positions

PP	Horse	Weight	Jockey	Trainer
1	Goldencents	122	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill
2	Shanghai Bobby	122	Rosie Napravnik	Todd Pletcher
3	Chief Havoc	122	Cornelio Velasquez	Jeremy Noseda
4	Archwarrior	122	John Velazquez	Todd Pletcher
5	Fortify	122	Ramon Dominguez	Kiaran McLaughlin
6	Bern Identity	122	Edgar Prado	Kelly Breen
7	Micromanage	122	Joel Rosario	Todd Pletcher

-Keelerman