Belmont Card Highlighted by Intriguing Champagne

Strong Mandate surged away to win the Hopeful Stakes on Sept. 2 at Saratoga Race Course. (Photo courtesy of Eclipse Sportwire)

Some of the best 2-year-olds in the country will converge on Belmont Park on Oct. 5 for the $500,000 Champagne Stakes, a race that could have a major impact on both the 2-year-old championship and the Breeders’ Cup.

The race features the return of Strong Mandate, who dominated his rivals in the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes a month ago. Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Strong Mandate earned his first victory by 4 ½ lengths in his second start before moving on to the Hopeful. Running on a sloppy track, Strong Mandate romped by 9 ¾ lengths over Casiguapo, who also is running in the Champagne.

Bred by the University of Kentucky, Casiguapo hasn’t been off the board in three starts, including that second-place finish to Strong Mandate in the Hopeful. It was obvious that Casiguapo’s connections thought a lot of him when he debuted in the Frank Gomez Memorial Stakes, in which he finished third. Trainer Mario Morales dropped him down to a maiden race where he easily defeated the field by 11 lengths. The Champagne will be his second try at stakes competition.

Perhaps the most hyped maiden winner this year is Honor Code. The A.P. Indy colt impressed in his career debut when he came from 22 lengths back to win by 4 ½ lengths at Saratoga. Trained by 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Shug McGaughey, Honor Code’s third dam is Serena’s Song, the 1995 Haskell Invitational heroine. Honor Code will try to prove that he can win on a dry track as his maiden victory was in the slop.

The field also includes notables such as maiden winner Havana, a $575,000 purchase in March at a 2-year-olds in training sale, who won his debut at Saratoga; and $100,000 Bashford Manor Stakes winner Debt Ceiling.

Also on tap for Saturday at Belmont are the Grade 1, $500,000 Jamaica Handicap and the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette Stakes.

Undefeated Sweet Reason highlights the field for the Frizette. Last seen winning the $300,000 Spinaway Stakes by 5 ¾ lengths, Sweet Reason earned owner Treadway Racing Stable and trainer Leah Gyarmati their first Grade 1 victory. Stopchargingmaria, who finished second to Sweet Reason in the Spinaway, will attempt to get her revenge in the Frizette. Owned Repole Stable and trained by Todd Pletcher, the Tale of the Cat filly won her first career start by 5 ½ lengths.

Three-year-olds take to the turf in the only non-juvenile graded stakes race of the day at Belmont. Admiral Kitten returns in the Jamaica Handicap for his first start since his Aug. 17 Secretariat Stakes victory. Admiral Kitten will be going for his second straight Grade 1 win.

The Jamaica drew a field of 13, including Secretariat second- and third-place finishers Stormy Len and Jack Milton and multiple graded stakes winner Notacatbutallama. Admiral Kitten will be running as part of a paired entry with Get in Line in the Jamaica.
 
$500,000 Champagne Stakes
Saturday, Race 10, Belmont Park, 5:46 p.m. ET
2-year-olds, 1 mile (dirt)