Champagne odds, analysis: Who can challenge It's Our Time?

The Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday drew a field of nine 2-year-olds. The one-turn mile is part of the Belmont at the Big A meeting and offers a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 and 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points for Kentucky Derby 2026.

Mark Casse and Kenny McPeek both have two horses in the Champagne field as they try to win the race for the first time. Steve Asmussen is the only trainer in the race who has a prior victory.

Here is a full-field analysis for the Champagne with morning-line odds from the Horse Racing Nation staff. The race is scheduled for 3:20 p.m. EDT and is listed as race 7 of 13 on a card, which includes five stakes, four of them are graded.

1. Curtain Call, 8-1. Tiz the Law – Mark Casse / Ricardo Santana Jr. – 3: 1-1-1 - $104,500. Curtain Call broke his maiden in his second try by more than eight lengths against a small field on a sloppy and sealed track at Saratoga. That was after a second in a field where the top three all came back to win. He was third in the Hopeful (G1) last month in a race where the winner was far ahead of the rest of the field. Use underneath.

2. Stradale, 15-1. Yaupon – Steve Asmussen / Manny Franco – 2: M-1-1 - $32,000. Stradale was a $1.3 million auction purchase in April and is still a maiden after two starts where he was the favorite both times. At the end of the Saratoga meeting he set the pace going seven furlongs and missed by a neck. Asmussen won the Champagne in 2020 with Jackie’s Warrior. Toss.

3. Universe, 10-1. Global Campaign – Kenny McPeek / Chris Elliot – 1: 1-0-0 - $55,000. Universe was a debut winner on Aug. 30 at Saratoga by more than four lengths going seven furlongs at 17-1. Toss.

4. Aye Eye, 20-1. Essential Quality – Joe Orseno / Samuel Marin – 2: 1-0-0 - $56,000. Aye Aye won his first start, going from a distant last to first in an auction-price restricted-race. He then broke slowly in the Hopeful after another slow start and passed tired horses to be fifth. Toss.

5. Just Asap, 15-1. Maxfield – Mark Casse / Florent Geroux – 2: 1-1-0 - $46,538. Just Asap won his first start at Ellis Park in August by seven lengths in an optional-claiming maiden in August. He returned to face winners in the Sapling at Monmouth Park in a one-turn mile, where he again set the pace. Against a field of five he battled down the stretch and missed by a neck. He has been training sharply at Belmont Park since then. Live long shot.

6. It’s Our Time, 4-5. Not This Time – Tom Amoss / Luis Saez– 1: 1-0-0 - $55,000. It’s Our Time was the most talked-about debut maiden winner at Saratoga this summer. The Virginia-bred did not break cleanly but quickly moved into contention in a field of nine at 5-1. He was ahead by 10 lengths at the stretch call and was geared down to win by almost 18 lengths. Top pick.

7. Stickupwithoutagun, 20-1. McKinzie – Kenny McPeek / Luis Rivera Jr.– 2: 1-0-0 - $50,400. Stickupwithoutagun made his first start going two turns on the turf and did little running. Two weeks later he moved to the main track against New York-breds again and used a stalking trip to beat a field of 12 by more than two lengths. Toss.

8. Napoleon Solo, 8-1. Liam’s Map – Chad Summers / Joel Rosario – 1: 1-0-0 - $44,000. Napoleon Solo was a bargain yearling purchase for $40,000 who won his August debut at Saratoga at 7-2 in a field of seven. He got to the lead on the backstretch and drew off to victory by more than five lengths. Win contender.

9. Talkin, 6-1. Good Magic – Danny Gargan / Kendrick Carmouche – 1: 1-0-0 - $55,000. Talkin was a $600,000 yearling purchase who won his first start against a field of eight going the challenging seven-furlong distance. At 9-1, he used an outside stalking trip to win by a neck over Stradale. Win contender.

Summary: None of the 2-year-olds in the Champagne has a win beyond the maiden level, and only three of them have experience in a stakes race. For most at Saratoga this summer, the debut maiden win by It’s Our Time was most impressive. He deserves to be a heavy favorite and will be the top pick.

For wagering purposes, race 7 will be part of two Pick 5s and will be a single on many tickets. Curtain Call, Talkin and long shot Just Asap should considered for use underneath in exacta and trifecta bets.