OZONE PARK, N.Y. – It was just one race. But what a race it was.
It’s Our Time, in his career debut Aug. 16 at Saratoga, ran away and hid from eight rivals in posting a 17 3/4-length victory that immediately made him a potential 2-year-old star. Saturday, he’ll try to validate that performance and earn a trip to the Breeders’ Cup when he starts as a likely heavy favorite in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct.
The Champagne, run as a one-turn mile, awards its winner a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar.
In his debut victory, It’s Our Time tracked the heavily favored first-time starter Hero Declared through a fast opening quarter. It’s Our Time ran by Hero Declared before the quarter pole and then drew away from a field that was left staggering in his wake. It’s Our Time covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.63 and earned a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. Two horses have come out of that race to run again, with fifth-place finisher Supreme Good winning an off-the-turf maiden $75,000 claiming event by 8 1/2 lengths. Forever Man, fourth to It’s Our Time, ran fifth here last Saturday, though he increased his Beyer Speed Figure by 14 points.
Trainer Tom Amoss is trying to temper expectations for It’s Our Time until he sees him run against winners.
“I think the expectations are sky high, but you got to be careful off one maiden race,” said Amoss, who trains It’s Our Time for Double Down Horse Racing. “He’s got a target on his back. Anything less than a brilliant performance is going to be disappointing. But we’re running against accomplished horses this time around. It’s certainly a test for him to prove himself in my opinion.”
Amoss, though based in Kentucky, chose the Champagne over the Breeders’ Futurity, a two-turn, 1 1/16-mile race at Keeneland, because he liked the gradual stretch-out in distance.
“He ran a really quick race and in transitioning to more distance I thought it not only fortunate but appropriate we could keep him one turn and go farther in distance,” said Amoss, who does have Saratoga debut winner Big Dom entered in the Breeders’ Futurity.
Luis Saez rides It’s Our Time from post 6.
Napoleon Solo drew away from six rivals to win his debut, a maiden race restricted to horses who sold for or failed to achieve a reserve of $60,000 or less at auction, by 5 1/4 lengths going six furlongs on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.
“We’ve always thought he wanted a little bit more ground,” said Chad Summers, who trains this son of Liam’s Map for Al Gold. “We’re excited about the race. We’re hopeful that he runs to his works and to his first race.”
Joel Rosario rides Napoleon Solo from post 8 in the Champagne. Kendrick Carmouche rode Napoleon Solo first out, but he is committed to ride Talkin, whom Carmouche also rode to a debut victory on Aug. 30 at Saratoga for trainer Danny Gargan.
Talkin, who was a bit green in his debut, did reel in second-time starter Stradale to win his at maiden at first asking going seven furlongs. His final time of 1:23.63 for seven furlongs was more than a full second faster than that posted by fellow Champagne candidate Universe who won his maiden by 4 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:24.78.
“He’s training better than he was before his first race,” Gargan said of Talkin. “He’s really laid back, but since he’s run and worked a couple of times, he trains on the bridle more. I expect him to run real big.”
Talkin breaks from post 9.
Stradale, despite his status as a maiden, is entered in the Champagne.
Universe, a son of Global Campaign, is one of two horses sent out by Kenny McPeek in this spot. He also sends out the New York-bred Stickupwithoutagun. The two worked together on Sept. 27, with Universe going a little better of the pair. That may explain why McPeek came back and blew out Stickupwithoutagun three furlongs in 36.25 seconds on Thursday morning at Belmont.
Trainer Mark Casse sends out the pair of Curtain Call and Just Asap. Curtain Call won his debut in the slop at Saratoga by 8 1/2 lengths before finishing third, 8 1/2 lengths behind Ted Noffey, in the Grade 1 Hopeful.
Just Asap, a winner for maiden/optional maiden $50,000 claiming at Ellis Park, was beaten a neck in the Sapling Stakes going at two-turn mile on Aug. 30 at Monmouth.
Aye Eye, trained by Joe Orseno, rallied from 19 lengths back to win his debut on Aug. 8 at Saratoga but then finished a well-beaten fifth in the Hopeful.
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