We had several Grade I stakes races over the weekend as we approach the Breeders’ Cup Classic the first week in November. At Belmont Park, the Champagne Stakes, the Frizette Stakes, the Flower Bowl Stakes and the Jockey Club Gold Cup all took place, and Keeneland Race Course hosted the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup.
Let us take a look at all the five top-shelf races and the results, courtesy of our friends at JAZZSports Racebook.
Weekend Racing Recap
Saturday, October 10
Champagne Stakes
Jackie’s Warrior maintained a perfect racing record, with four wins in four starts, pulling away for a 5 ½-length victory in his first start at a mile. The two-year-old colt of Maclean’s Music came away with an automatic entry in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 6. He was the favorite among six horses, with splits of :23.12 and :46.54 before a three-quarter time of 1:10.68. He finished at 1:35.42 on a fast track. Reinvestment Risk came in second, holding the runner-up slot throughout the race. Midnight Bourbon was in third the whole way and finished 8 ¾ lengths behind Reinvestment Risk. Civil War finished the superfecta.
Frizette Stakes
Hard Love rolled to the win at the Frizette Stakes on Saturday, with Manuel Franco on board. A two-year-old colt sired by Kitten’s Joy, he won by two lengths over Big Everest, who finished 3 ½ lengths ahead of Hardison. Mira Mission, a two-year-old gelding, completed the superfecta, 2 ½ lengths back of Hardison.
Flower Bowl Stakes
Civil Union got the best of an exciting finishing furlong, winning in a photo finish over My Sister Nat to win over 1 ¼ miles on the turf. Civil Union seems to have come into her own at the age of five years old. She settled at the rear of the back as Cambier Parc, the favorite, ran out to a quick lead but then let Lovely Lucky set the pace. Civil Union’s rider, Joel Rosario, saved some ground around the last bend and then ran to the front by the eighth pole and surging forward for the win. She finished the distance in 2:01.28.
Jockey Club Gold Cup
Happy Saver won in his fourth start, brushing up against the rail down the stretch to take the lead, pushing past Mystic Guide. He covered the 1 ¼ mile distance in 2:01.77, winning by ¾ of a length. The favorite was Tacitus, but he came in third place in his sixth Grade I race after starting out with a soft pace. Prioritize finished fourth to complete the superfecta, 6 ¼ lengths back of Tacitus. The field ended up with just five horses, and they were put in the outside five stalls in the starting gate, since 10-furlong races at Belmont begin on the turn. Happy Saver completed the half-mile in :49.68 and three-quarters in 1:13.61, with the mile coming at 1:37.25.
Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup
Harvey’s Lil Goil won the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup as the third choice, happy to let Sweet Melania hold the early lead. The two led through opening fractions of :23.89, :47.75 and 1:12.16, and then Harvey’s Lil Goil started to make her move through the far turn. She had the lead coming into the home stretch and won by ¾ of a length, finishing the 1 1/8 mile ride on the turf in 1:48.72. Micheline pulled by the favorite, Magic Attitude, to take second by a half-length, and the same distance separated Magic Attitude and Red Lark, who finished fourth.
Give an EDGE to your horse-betting with the aid of JAZZ Horse Racing’s expert racing advice. Keep an eye out for our special series of articles on the upcoming Breeders’ Cup 2020!
