Head to Head: Juveniles sparkle in the Champagne Stakes

 Laurie

Ashley

1. Curtain Call (6-1)

After winning his second start, Curtain Call met Ted Noffy in the Hopeful (G1). Although nobody was a match for that one, Curtain Call gained ground but was nipped on the wire for second place by Buetane. The Mark Casse trainee regressed slightly in his second start, completing his final furlong in 13.61 and earning a 90 Brisnet Speed Rating. But his 94 late-pace figure is the field's second-highest. By second-crop sire Tiz the Law, Curtain Call is out of the unraced Into Mischief mare Deep Troubles. Class in his extended family includes multiple Grade 1 heroine Artemis Agrotera and Grade 1 winner and sire Stephen Got Even. Mark Casse gave Curtain Call a second-to-last bullet five-furlong bullet in 1:00.84, which should set him up for progression. Exotics.

Trained by Mark Casse, Curtain Call was last seen finishing a nonthreatening third in the Hopeful (G1). He was second in his debut behind Obliteration, a runaway winner of the Sanford (G3) in his next start and second to Curtain Call's stablemate Ewing in the Saratoga Special (G2). Curtain Call, along with third-place finisher Clocker Special, won at second asking, with Curtain Call sprinting off to an 8 1/2-length victory despite stumbling at the break. Third-place finisher Throckmorton has broken his maiden since. Curtain Call has a career-best 94 Brisnet Speed Rating from his sole victory. He received a 90 for his third-place finish in the Hopeful. Ricardo Santana Jr., who is just 4% wins with a 21% in-the-money clip over the last year when riding for Casse, takes over from regular jockey Jose Ortiz, who will be riding at Keeneland. Contender.

2. Stradale (8-1)

Stradale is still a maiden but came oh so close in his last start, missing by a neck to Talkin. He was on the engine from the start and zipped a 44.62 half mile. He was tired, drifting and lashing his tail in the stretch, and couldn't hold off the onslaught of Talkin. Stradale completed his final furlong in a staggering 14.05. He improved his speed rating six points to 92, but his 74 late-pace figure is one of the field's lowest. Stradale's distaff line is strongly turf-oriented. By leading First Crop sire Yaupon, Stradale is the first foal out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Twitterpated, who placed once in five starts at 1 1/16 miles over the lawn. Her full sister, Stormy Lucy, inherited the good genes as a Grade 1-winning turf miler who was also multiple Grade 1-placed at classic distances. A half-sister, Big Runer, is a Grade 2-winning turf sprinter. Stabled at Churchill, the Asmussen trainee posted a pre-race five-furlong move in 1:01.40. Instead of facing a tougher crowd in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, he shows up here. Pass.  

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Stradale is still a maiden after failing as the favorite in his first two starts. To be fair, Stradale was roughed up in his debut, and his trip notes from that race read like a boxing match recap. Two from that race have become winners, with two more hitting the board in their next outing. Stradale most recently missed the win by a neck when fellow entrant Talkin ran him down in the shadow of the wire. None from that race have made subsequent starts. Both of Stradale's previous starts were at Saratoga, the first contested at six furlongs and the second at seven furlongs. The colt received an 85 Brisnet Speed Rating for his debut and a 92 for his second start. Manny Franco, who will be the colt's third jockey in as many starts, has the mount. Exotics.

3. Universe (12-1)

Breaking from the rail, Universe slammed the gate and was off last in his debut. He flew up the rail to get into contention, doing it on his own while chasing a 45.19 half mile. Through the stretch, Universe was thinking about the tiring horses to his inside and started going up and down instead of forward. Once he regained focus, Ken McPeek's charge cleared by 4 1/2 lengths with his ears up. He completed seven furlongs in 1:24.78 with a glacial 13.77 final furlong. Universe's 73 late-pace figure is among the field's lowest. By second-crop sire Global Campaign, Universe is the second foal and first winner out of the unplaced Quality Road mare Equalityforall. Class skips to the third generation to Grade 3-winning handicap horse Called to Serve. Universe is distantly related to Stickupwithoutagun through the mare Quite Honestly, who is Universe's fifth dam and Stickupwithoutagun's third. Ken McPeek gave Universe a trio of pre-race five-furlong moves, each quicker than the last. I'm factoring in the hard metal punch of the gate at the start, so perhaps Universe could have won in a quicker time if that had not happened. Either way, he was visually impressive and is worth a long shot exotics look.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Universe debuted a winner at Saratoga. The colt hit the gate hard at the break, making him a beat slow to begin. He moved up under urging to press the pace and took the short way around in the final turn before moving off the rail to commence his rally. He didn't switch leads until right outside the sixteenth pole, but once on the correct lead, he drew away under a strong hand ride to win the seven-furlong race by 4 1/2 lengths. Only two from that field have made subsequent starts, with just one hitting the board. Universe received an 83 Brisnet Speed Rating for the effort. Christopher Elliott has the return call. Pass.

4. Aye Eye (15-1)

Aye Eye is like one of those people horses who wake up late and have to rush to get to work. He has trouble getting out of the gate, which results in weaving through rush-hour traffic to pass slower rivals. That was fine debuting against maidens, but it cost him in the Hopeful. Javier Castellano hustled him from last to make up ground. They circled the field five-wide, and Aye Eye was drifting until Castellano corrected course. Aye Eye tried his best but ran out of ground and oats. The Joe Orseno trainee's Brisnet rating improved five points to 84, and his 95 late-pace figure is the field's best. By the sixth-leading first-crop sire and two-time champ Essential Quality, Aye Eye is out of the multiple-winning stakes sprinter Divine Queen. The extended family includes multiple graded winner The Player. The pretty gray Aye Eye has only two breezes between his two starts, both slow four-furlong moves at Monmouth, and surprisingly, no gate works in the last three months. I liked him as a long-shot prospect in the Hopeful, but I'm taking a pass here.  

Trained by Joseph Orseno, Aye Eye debuted a winner going six furlongs at Saratoga. The son of Essential Quality broke from the gate like he was moving through cold molasses and spotted the field enough distance that he was nowhere on the viewing screen. He put in an absolutely ridiculous rally, weaving through rivals in the stretch to win by 1 1/2 lengths. One entrant from that race was a next-out winner, and another two hit the board in their subsequent start. Aye Eye received just a 79 speed rating. He was most recently fifth, beaten by 12 lengths, in the Hopeful. Orseno has 4% wins with a 27% in-the-money clip in graded stakes in the last five years and last won a graded stakes when Hades won the 2024 Holy Bull (G3). Samuel Marin, who won his first graded stakes July 19 with Surface to Air in the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3), takes over from Javier Castellano. Pass.

5. Just Asap (12-1)

In the Sapling Stakes, Just Asap bounced out of the Monmouth Park starting gate directly into a speed duel. As Ashley notes, he ticked off steady fractions throughout. In a thrilling finish, Just ASAP was passed but came back into contention late,and was game in defeat. He earned a sharp 92 late-pace figure. By fourth leading first-crop sire Maxfield, Just Asap is the third foal out of the Grade 3-placed turf miler Movie Moment. This is a nice distaff line. Movie Moment's half-sister bore the 2023 champion juvenile filly,Just F Y I. Another half-sister bore the precocious Uncle Benny, who was second in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Just Asap's second dam, Starrer, was a multiple Grade 1 winner up to 1 1/8 miles, including back-to-back victories in the Bayakoa Stakes (G2). Mark Casse gave Just Aasp a pair of bullet moves at Belmont, including a second-to-last five furlongs in 1:00.84. This could set Just Asap for another step forward. Exotics.  

Also from the Casse barn, Just Asap debuted as a winner in a maiden optional claimer at Ellis Park. The son of Maxfield took the field gate to wire and drew off in the stretch to win by seven lengths. Third-place finisher Honey Dutch won next out on the turf. In his second start, the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, Just Asap went for the lead and cruised through easy :12 clips. He lost the lead in the stretch, battled back to regain the lead but ultimately had to settle for second, missing the victory by a neck. Just Asap earned a 77 Brisnet Speed Rating for his debut and a 90 for the Sapling Stakes. Florent Geroux takes over from Cristian Torres. Geroux doesn't typically ride for Casse and has just 9% wins with a 36% in-the-money rate with him over the last year. Exotics.

6. It's Our Time (1-1)

In his Saratoga debut, It's Our Time chased quick early fractions of 21.99  and 44.78. The worn-out pacesetter folded like a cheap suit by the 1/8 pole, and It's Our Time took over, galloping home by 17 3/4 lengths in 1:15.63 with a final half-furlong in 6:59. The Tom Amoss trainee recorded a decent 92 late-pace figure. Not This Time's son is the first foal out of the three-time stakes-winning sprinter Shea D Summer. Female family class skips to the third generation and includes European champion juvenile Air Force Blue. It's Our Time has a slow but steady breeze record at Churchill. Contender.

Trained by Tom Amoss, It's Our Time positively sparkled in his debut at Saratoga. Despite being bumped exiting the gate, It's Our Time led briefly early on but settled and allowed a foe to go on with it. He went four to five wide at the top of the stretch, determinedly took control of the race under urging, and was geared down inside the final sixteenth. The margin of victory was 17 3/4 lengths, and It's Our Time received a 100 Brisnet Speed Rating. The fifth-place finisher was a next-out winner after taking a drop in class. Amoss has just 3% wins with a 24% in-the-money clip in graded stakes in the last five years and hasn't won a graded stakes since Hoosier Philly won the 2022 edition of the Golden Rod (G2). Luis Saez retains the mount. Contender.

7. Stickupwithoutagun (30-1)

In his second start, Stickupwithoutagun found dirt sprints were his thing. He raced wide behind the pace early. What impressed me was that he split horses around the turn without hesitation. However, the impression didn't last, as he switched to his left lead and had to think about passing the eventual second-place finisher. The Ken McPeek trainee completed six furlongs in a sharp 1:11.28, but he was crawling late, clocking a 13.67 final furlong. His 73 late-pace figure is the field's lowest. By second-leading second-crop sire McKinzie, Stickupwithoutagun is the third foal out of the Trappe Shot mare,Gun Club. The mare's half-brother Mr Palmer was a stakes-winning miler and multiple stakes placed at 1 1/8 miles. Class in the third generation incudes solid veteran handicap horse Commentator, plus the sires Beherns and Cowboy Cal. Stickupwithoutagun shares a distaff line with rival Universe. McPeek gave Stickupwithoutagun a pair of pre-race five-furlong stamina works, but the colt needs to show more while moving up in class and stretching out. Pass.

Also from the McPeek barn, Stickupwithoutagun debuted on turf, finishing sixth, beaten by 14 lengths, while facing New York-bred company. McPeek transferred him to dirt and shortened him from 1 1/16 miles to six furlongs for his second start. Stickupwithoutagun won that race by 2 1/4 lengths while also facing New York-breds. Two rivals from the colt's debut finished second in their next outing, and two from his second race finished third next out against state-breds, with one doing so in a stakes race. The son of McKinzie's speed ratings are lackluster, with the 79 from his victory being the best number he's received. Luis R. Rivera Jr., who has never won a graded stakes and has 27% in-the-money in graded stakes in the last five years, retains the mount. Pass.

8. Napoleon Solo (8-1)

Napoleon Solo looked good winning his debut by 5 1/2 lengths. He did everything right by stalking the pace from the outside, moving into position, spying the tired pacesetter and gunning him down. The Chad Sumers trainee completed six furlongs in an average 1:11.14, with a slowish 13.15 final furlong. It was good enough for a 94 speed rating, but only an 86 late-pace figure, although his middle move earned a sharp 106 E2 figure. By Liam's Map, Napoleon Solo has a turf-oriented distaff line. He is the first foal out of the stakes-winning turf sprinter-miler Atomic Blonde. Class skips to the third generation of this female family and contains several European and Australian Group winners. Napoleon Solo fired bullets in his last three breezes, including a pre-race four furlongs in 47.40. Napoleon Solo has a high knee gait, with a "turfy" rocking horse action. Exotics.

Trained by Chad Summers, Napoleon Solo won his debut by 5 1/4 lengths while traveling six furlongs. He received a 94 Brisnet Speed Rating. Two from that field finished in the trifecta in their next start. Summers has 5% wins with a 27% in-the-money clip in graded stakes over the last five years and last won a graded stakes when Clapton captured the 2023 Lukas Classic (G2). Joel Rosario, who has not ridden for Summers in the last year, takes over from Kendrick Carmouche, who will ride Talkin instead. Exotics.

9. Talkin (5-1)

Talkin made a couple of moves in his Saratoga debut. He broke on top but was quickly outrun, settling between horses on the outside while chasing Stradale's fast pace. When he got to the rail, Talkin hugged the corner but was sharply corrected for moving out of his lane. He switched leads a few times and passed a tired Stradale by a neck. Talkin recorded a 79 late-pace figure for his stretch antics, but had a 106 E2 figure. By Good Magic, Talkin is a half to multiple stakes-placed sprinter Jumby Bay and Grade 2-placed Royal Obsession, the dam of recent Cotillion Stakes (G1) heroine Clicquot. The second generation of this female family includes the Grade 1-winning turf router Magnificent Song. Danny Gargan gave Talkin a moderate series of four-furlong works in the 48 to 50 range, typical for the trainer. I wasn't impressed with how hard Talkin had to work to pass a tired horse, and he'll need to step up to be a factor. Pass.

Trained by Danny Gargan, Talkin debuted a winner, prevailing by a neck over Stradale in a seven-furlong event at Saratoga. None from that field have made subsequent starts. Talkin received a 92 Brisnet Speed Rating for his effort. Gargan has 19% wins with a 36% in-the-money rate in graded stakes over the last five years, with his last graded victory coming in the 2024 Haskell Stakes (G1) with Dornoch. Kendrick Carmouche has the return call. Exotics.