Champagne Anyone follows up 'bad trip' with Saratoga target
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Photo:
Eclipse Sportswire
Champagne Anyone, the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) winner who won her second career start last summer at Ellis Park, is pointing next toward the Grade 1, $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20 at Saratoga Race Course.
In her last start, the Ian Wilkes-trained Champagne Anyone rallied to finish fourth in the Kentucky Oaks.
In her last start, the Ian Wilkes-trained Champagne Anyone rallied to finish fourth in the Kentucky Oaks.
“I didn’t have a good trip at all; I had a really bad trip,” said jockey Chris Landeros. “I broke good, broke running. I felt that Street Band caused me to get in a little bit of a tight spot, not that anyone did anything wrong. But we’re all getting our position for the first turn, and there was only room for about one, maybe one and a quarter of horse, and I had to check out of a hole.
"That’s what cost my momentum going into the first turn. You want to run to that first turn and get your spot. I was forced to be behind a wall that I didn’t want to be, and she was pulling me. Then I got shuffled back even farther.
"That’s what cost my momentum going into the first turn. You want to run to that first turn and get your spot. I was forced to be behind a wall that I didn’t want to be, and she was pulling me. Then I got shuffled back even farther.
“The horse ran fourth off raw talent. I don’t know if I (would have won), but I’d have made it second or third, possibly. Pretty interesting actually. I was a little disappointed at myself for not doing certain things, just the way it all worked out. But I think she’ll get her time. She’s doing well. Just have to stay patient. You just have to do right next time, and I’m looking forward to it.”
The CCA Oaks runs at 1 1/8 miles, same as the Kentucky Oaks.
“Distance is no problem,” Wilkes said. “Her Oaks race was good. She’s the only filly that closed from way back. She should have been closer in the race but just got shuffled back but closed well and made a nice run, and I’m very happy with the way she’s done since.”
“Distance is no problem,” Wilkes said. “Her Oaks race was good. She’s the only filly that closed from way back. She should have been closer in the race but just got shuffled back but closed well and made a nice run, and I’m very happy with the way she’s done since.”
“She’s doing well,” echoed exercise rider Kara Lee. “Ian gave her a little bit of a break, wanted to give her some time to rest just because she hadn’t had a break. But now she’s beginning to gear back down, been working really well. She’s happy and ready to back to running.”
Champagne Anyone, a daughter of Street Sense campaigned by Six Column Stables and Randy Bloch, has worked consistently at Churchill Downs, most recently breezing five furlongs June 21 in a minute flat.
She figures to meet, among others, the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) winner Point of Honor at Saratoga.
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