Daredevil, By the Moon Dazzle at Belmont

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Daredevil ran away with his first grade 1 score in the Champagne Stakes. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
With only a dominant debut win under his saddle, Daredevil swamped the opposition in the Grade 1 Foxwoods Champagne Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.
The victory earned Daredevil the $300,000 winner’s share of the $500,000 purse and cemented his status as a legitimate contender for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. As a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series “Win and You’re In” race, the Champagne provided Daredevil with a guaranteed starting spot in the Juvenile on Nov. 1.
The More Than Ready colt pressed pacesetter Holy Boss early in the one-mile race and had plenty of gas left in the tank for the stretch run. Daredevil spurted away to a big lead and easily held off Upstart to prevail by 2 ½ lengths as the 1.70-to-1 favorite
Daredevil completed the mile in 1:36.62 on a sealed, sloppy main track.
“I thought it was very impressive,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He rated kindly and did everything you would hope one would do. He finished really well and I couldn't be more pleased.”
2014 CHAMPAGNE STAKES

Upstart was 12 ¾ lengths clear of third-place finisher The Truth Or Else.
A $260,000 purchase by Let’s Go Stable at the 2013 Keeneland September yearling sale, Daredevil debuted for trainer Todd Pletcher on Sept. 13 at Belmont Park, where he led from start to finish en route to a 6 ¼-length runaway win on a muddy track.
Bred in Kentucky by Marianne I. Chase and Brandon L. Chase, Daredevil is a half-brother (same dam [mother], different sire [father]) to 2008 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile victor Albertus Maximus.
By the Moon Shines in Frizette

By the Moon punched her ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with a superb performance in the slop in the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes.
The Indian Charlie filly overhauled Cavorting approaching the top of the stretch and quickly put her away. By the Moon powered clear to a commanding advantage and never was seriously challenged in the final yards of the one-mile race for 2-year-old fillies.
She completed the mile in 1:39.42 to win by 2 ¼ lengths for her second victory in three lifetime starts.
Wonder Gal rallied from off the pace for second. Heavily favored Condo Commando finished fourth.
Trained by Michelle Nevin for owner Jay Em Ess Stable, By the Moon entered off a distant second-place finish to Condo Commando in the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes on Aug. 31 at Saratoga Race Course. Under similar condition five weeks later, By the Moon was much the best.
“She’s always been extremely smart and very professional,” Nevin said. “In her first race she did everything she was expected to do as a racehorse. Even in her second race it wasn't the greatest trip; she had to go a little wide and maybe it was speed biased that day. She still tried to make her run. Today, she just took control.”
Bred by Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess, By the Moon is out of Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner By the Light, by Malibu Moon.
For Equibase charts, click here.
2014 FRIZETTE STAKES