||
Blazing Sevens, ridden by Flavien Prat, wins the G1 Champagne
Last of six runners in the early going, Blazing Sevens uncoiled a determined outside rally in the stretch and won the $500,000 Champagne (G1) for 2-year-olds by 3 1/4 lengths Saturday at the Belmont at the Big A fall meet.
With Flavien Prat riding for trainer Chad Brown, Blazing Sevens covered one mile on a sloppy (sealed) in 1:37.07
Verifying was second, ,and favorite Gulfport was third. Early pacesetter Andiamo a Firenze faded to fourth.
The Champagne is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win And You’re In” qualifier, providing Blazing Sevens an automatic, fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Nov. 4 at Keeneland.
Rodeo Creek Racing’s Blazing Sevens became the fourth Champagne winner for Brown, who captured the race previously with Practical Joke [2016], Complexity [2018] and Jack Christopher [2021].
Blazing Sevens’ victory provided Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms’ first-crop sire Good Magic his first Grade 1 winner. He returned $19.
Blazing Sevens made his first two career starts at Saratoga, garnering an 85 Beyer in his 6 1/4-length maiden score on July 24. He followed with a distant third in the Hopeful (G1) there on Sept. 5 but was ready to win in a top effort Saturday.
