10/6/12 BEL - Race 8 - The Champagne - Results

Shanghai Bobby (Final Odds 1.65-1), with Jockey Rosie Napravnik on board, made it a perfect four-for-four for his career Saturday by winning The Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park by a comfortable five lengths, paying $5.30 / $2.90 / $2.10.  Goldencents (3.70-1) set the early pace, covering the first half mile in 47.45 seconds, and held on for the Place, paying $5.40 / $3.20.  Finishing a length behind Goldencents was Fortify (6.20-1) paying $3.20 to Show.  The Shanghai Bobby / Goldencents Exacta paid $13.00 for a buck, while the Shanghai Bobby / Goldencents / Fortify Trifecta returned $39.50 for every dollar wagered.

As I mentioned in the preview, The Champagne was a "Win & You're In" race, so Shanghai Bobby has his ticket punched to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile; that is, if his connections want it.  In this article by David Grening at DRF.com, Jack Wolf, founder of Starlightracing (owner of Shanghai Bobby) is quoted as saying, "I was a believer then [in 2001, with Shanghai Bobby's sire Harlan's Holiday], and I probably am still, that the horses that run in the 2-year-old Breeders’ Cup race don’t come back,” Wolf said. “With the exception of last year; last year was unbelievable how they came back.  We’ll take our time and decide.  I really don’t know what the right answer is right now.”  So we'll have to wait and see if Shanghai Bobby will make the trip to Santa Anita next month.

Anyway, there's nothing like hitting a Trifecta cold to help you believe that you might actually know what you're talking about.  I hope you all had it with me.

Onto the next race!

For those interested, the Equibase chart of the race is available here, while those who prefer their charts in the Daily Racing Form format may view theirs here.  If you go to the article by David Grening that I linked to above, you should be able to view a replay of The Champagne.

Peace and Love,

Jimbo