Call Paul Could Raise Glass in Champagne

After posting clear victories in his first two starts, grade 2 winner Call Paul will try grade 1 company for the first time in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) Oct. 6 at Belmont Park.

Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables, and Bruce Irom's Call Paul won his 5 1/2-furlong maiden debut by 2 1/4 lengths July 5 at Delaware Park before overcoming some early bumps in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2) to win that 6 1/2-furlong test by a length.

A son of Friesan Fire , Call Paul will stretch out a bit in the Champagne, a one-turn mile. Ten juveniles have been entered in the Champagne, a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race to the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1). The Champagne also is a points race to the 2019 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Call Paul is trained by Jason Servis, who will be looking for his second straight Champagne victory after taking last year's edition with Firenze Fire. Also looking for a second straight Champagne victory is jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., who is scheduled to ride Call Paul Saturday.

Call Paul is not only the lone graded stakes winner in the field, he is the only horse to have started in a graded stakes.

Two years ago, trainer Chad Brown saddled Practical Joke  to victory in the Champagne. And last year he watched Good Magic  finish second in the Champagne, ahead of his Breeders' Cup Juvenile win that would earn him a divisional championship.

This year, Brown has entered a pair of colts as he looks to get back to the winner's circle. Klaravich Stables' Complexity drew off in the stretch of his six-furlong maiden debut Sept. 3 at Saratoga Race Course. Aurelius Maximus, campaigned by Stonestreet Stables, George Bolton, and Peter Leidel, scored in his second maiden try, drawing off to a 7 3/4-length victory going one mile on a sloppy Belmont surface Sept. 9.

Since those efforts, Brown likes how both horses have looked in the mornings.

"They both trained well together, and they are ready for the Champagne," Brown said. "They both seem to be training well on the main track. They both seem like they are top-quality, so I'm confident in both them." 

Entered Saturday off an impressive debut is Godolphin Racing homebred Endorsed, who will break from the rail after rallying past four rivals to win a six-furlong maiden race Aug. 18 at Saratoga. The son of Medaglia d'Oro  is trained by Kiaran McLaughlin.

Other impressive first-out winners trying the Champagne include Achilles Warrior, who won an off-the-turf, 5 1/2-furlong maiden race Aug. 22 at Saratoga for trainer Mark Hennig, and Code of Honor, who scored for Shug McGaughey in a six-furlong test Aug. 18 at the Spa. Shipping in from Southern California will be Reddam Racing's Listing, who defeated seven other California-breds in the I'm Smokin Stakes in his debut Aug. 31 at Del Mar.

Entries: Champagne S. (G1)

Belmont Park, Saturday, October 06, 2018, Race 10

• Grade I
• 1m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 2 yo
• 5:35 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Endorsed (KY)	Joe Bravo	122	Kiaran P. McLaughlin	7/2
2	2Trophy Chaser (KY)	Junior Alvarado	122	Juan Carlos Avila	10/1
3	3Achilles Warrior (KY)	Dylan Davis	122	Mark A. Hennig	15/1
4	4Complexity (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Chad C. Brown	5/2
5	5Call Paul (PA)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	122	Jason Servis	4/1
6	6Listing (CA)	Mario Gutierrez	122	Ben D. A. Cecil	15/1
7	7Successful Zip (KY)	Manuel Franco	122	Miguel Vera	20/1
8	8Code of Honor (KY)	Eric Cancel	122	Claude R. McGaughey III	6/1
9	9Aurelius Maximus (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Chad C. Brown	6/1
10	10Casa Creed (KY)	David Cohen	122	William I. Mott	30/1