Complexity leads every step, dominates Champagne Stakes

Chad Brown-trained Complexity looked like a potential star in winning Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes, going wire to wire off a Saratoga maiden victory, and doing so while running swiftly on the lead.

Under jockey Jose Ortiz, the son of Maclean’s Music went essentially unchallenged, giving himself a three-length lead off the turn after going the opening half mile in 45.31.

"The horse ran outstanding -- just a remarkable talent," Brown said. "To carry those fractions all the way through the mile was impressive."

The runner-up, Code of Honor, perhaps deserved better given he stumbled leaving the gate and had to rally wide. Still, even un-deterred he might not have had enough to get to Complexity.

Call Paul, a last-out graded stakes winner, got up for third in a photo over Brown's other runner, Aurelius Maximus.

"We broke on top and went right to the lead, and he went fast and easy," Ortiz said. "I thought I was going, 23, 46 and 4, 47. I felt like I was going very easy. When I came back, I couldn't believe he went 22 and 45. 1:34 is a very respectable time for these babies."

Klaravich Stables paid $375,000 for the Complexity, who’s 2-for-2 and likely on to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as one of the top picks. This victory also came with 10 qualifying points toward the 2019 Kentucky Derby.

Brown, of course, won the 2017 Juvenile and ran second in the 2018 Derby with the recently retired Good Magic.

One question Complexity still has to answer: While he finished up in 1:34.63 for the mile, how will he perform around two turns? We’ll find out Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.

"It's another sixteenth of a mile, but he's a class horse," Brown said. "Jose gets along with him well, and hopefully he'll get a good trip in this race."