U. S. S. Valor dominates G1 Champagne; Dotsy takes top spot in G1 Frizette

U. S. S. Valor sweeps clear to dominant G1 Champagne victory

By Jon Forbes

ELMONT, N.Y. – U. S. S. Valor uncorked a powerful stretch run to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, a one-turn mile for 2-year-olds, in eye-catching fashion on Saturday at Belmont Park.

Heavily favored off a 13 1/4-length second-out maiden victory on September 5 at Saratoga Race Course, U. S. S. Valor broke a step slowly in the Champagne but quickly recovered to race 1 1/4 lengths behind the leaders, Gaudreau, Johnny Hockey and Club Reign, in fifth as the tightly-packed field traveled in two tandems of three through an opening quarter-mile 23.19 seconds and a half in 46.08 over the fast dirt.

The Team Valor Kentucky homebred continued to wait behind horses on the far turn through three quarters in 1:10.18 before he was angled outside by jockey Manny Franco, bumping with Earth Song before lengthening his stride and striking to the front nearing the eighth pole en route to a 6 1/2-length triumph over second choice Gaudreau, who contested the early pace and ultimately finished two lengths ahead of third-place finisher Club Reign.

U. S. S. Valor, the 1-4 favorite in the field of six, returned $2.74 for a $2 win wager and stopped the clock in 1:34.84.

“The way he did it, being behind horses; he was on the bridle, but the right way,” said Franco. “We were bunched up. As soon as he got to the half a mile, I had a chance to drop my hands, and he stayed there for me. When I called him again, he just took off again. He just exploded. He has a lot of talent.”

With the Champagne victory, U. S. S. Valor earned $275,000, a free entry into the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as part of the “Win and You’re In” program, and 10 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings. Kentucky Derby points were awarded on a 10-5-3-2-1 basis to the top-five finishers.

It was the fourth Champagne triumph for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey, who previously won the race with Polish Navy [1986], Easy Goer [1988], and Adjudicating [1989].

The Champagne was a rematch of a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight contested August 8 at Saratoga won by Gaudreau by a half-length. U. S. S. Valor, ridden that day by Tyler Gaffalione, was carried inward at the start before steadily working his way through the field to finish a diminishing three-quarters of a length behind the winner in third. U. S. S. Valor had smooth sailing when going seven furlongs September 5, vying for early supremacy and drawing clear in the stretch while being geared down late by Franco.

“Manny is a great rider, and [in the Champagne] he got him where he wanted him to be – got in a little trouble at the head of the stretch, but he was able to [overcome] that,” said McGaughey. “I think when they get an education like he got in his first race, it helps down the line. The second race was perfect, but Manny and I talked in the paddock and I [thought] for him to learn and to be a good horse, he’s going to need a target, and he got one today.

“I think Manny has turned into an outstanding rider,” McGaughey added. “That was why when it came down to it, I was anxious to get him on him. Tyler was going to be out of town [September 5], so I was glad I worked with [Franco’s] agent [John Panagot], and [that I] was able to get him back today. I have all the confidence in him and I think he’s a top rider and will continue to get even better.”

McGaughey said he and Team Valor president Barry Irwin will see how U. S. S. Valor exits the Champagne before they decide the colt’s next start. The trainer said U. S. S. Valor has been “more forward” than 2015 Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap and Grade 1 Whitney winner Honor Code and 2019 Grade 1 Travers and Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup victor Code of Honor. Both Honor Code and Code of Honor were second in the Champagne.

“Code of Honor when he ran in [the Champagne] had the outside and he broke bad – he was able to finish,” said McGaughey. “Honor Code had only run the one time and he was still a little bit [green] and had to come from way back and finish. This horse is just not that way. He’s been forward with me the whole time I’ve had him and I think he showed it today.”

Irwin said U. S. S. Valor’s Champagne victory ranks highly among the accomplishments of Team Valor colorbearers.

“We have never really won a top 2-year-old race like this,” said Irwin. “I mean we won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, we won the Spinaway, I’ve won a couple of good ones in Europe, but this is the best, for me.

“I’ve never had a horse anywhere near this quality before, and I’ve had some good horses,” Irwin continued. “He is just beyond words. I can’t believe I bred him, I can’t believe I own him.”

U. S. S Valor is a bay son of 2019 Grade 1 Preakness winner War of Will.

Trainer Chad Brown, who saddled Gaudreau, said his colt was “no match” for the winner.

“I thought I got a great trip,” said Brown. “He broke maybe just a step [slow] and he [Flavien Prat] used him a bit to get up there, but from then on I had a great trip. I was just a little disappointed today when they turned for home that I didn’t shake free from that Club Reign, who was kind of asked a little bit turning for home. Off a 46 half, I think my horse is able to do that in-hand, and I started to be a little concerned that he had to ask him. He did respond when he asked him, but today, much different than the debut of these two horses [Gaudreau and U.S.S. Valor] – now there’s a gap between them today. The winner was clearly much the best today and rolled right by us… I’ve got to go back to the drawing board as a trainer and figure out what happened there and why is this gap between them now?”

Edgard Zayas, rider aboard third-place finisher Club Reign, said he expects his Whit Beckman-trained mount to continue to be a factor in major races.

“I think [Club Reign] ran a huge race,” said Zayas. “He’s definitely a horse who can get better with experience. It was just his second race. The winner is a really nice horse, but I know Club Reign is very classy and has some great wins in his future, for sure. The way he broke out of the gate super sharp and then just got into cruise control and relaxed was impressive. The winner just had a different kick.”

Earth Song finished fourth and was followed home by Johnny Hockey and Raku.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

General admission at Belmont Park is available for $7 when purchased in advance and provides fans with access to grandstand seats on most days, all areas within the first floor of the grandstand and the backyard. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

Dotsy takes top spot in G1 Frizette

ELMONT, N.Y. – TSP Enterprises’ Dotsy improved to 2-for-2 with a stalking score under Kendrick Carmouche in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile for 2-year-old fillies, at Belmont Park.

Dotsy, in her August 26 debut, provided Finger Lakes-based John Grabowski with his first training win at Saratoga Race Course. On Saturday, she provided the conditioner with his first career stakes win as a trainer – doing so at the highest level at odds of 11-1.

Grabowski’s last stakes success at Belmont Park came as a jockey after guiding Impeachthepro to victory in the Hudson Handicap on October 21, 2001.

“This is the most incredible experience of my life, other than my two daughters being born. This is the greatest moment of my life. I know that’s from Rocky, but it is. I’ve got a stable of nine right now, all at Finger Lakes. I had a hell of a career riding, but this is it. This is the top,” Grabowski said.

The Frizette is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland. A nominated winner of the Frizette receives a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees, with second and third place finishers receiving credits of $15,000 and $7,500, respectively. The Frizette also offers qualifying points to the top-five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May at Churchill Downs.

Dotsy was purchased by Grabowski for $37,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.

“Josie Palmisano worked the sale for me and put together a short list, and she was on the short list. I loved how she looked – she was correct, she checked all the boxes, and she looked like we could afford her,” Grabowski said. “I bid on her, and when I was bidding, I was so nervous because I wanted her so bad. When I won the bid, I had a hard time signing the sheet [laughs]. I had $60,000 to spend, and I was prepared to go all the way up to that. When she started breezing the five-eighths and blowing away her competition – we were breezing her with older horses, and no one could even stay close to her.”

Girls Wear Pearls made the lead in the Frizette with 4-5 mutuel favorite Libby Lloyd tracking in second position and Dotsy to their outside in third through the opening quarter-mile in 22.98 seconds and the half-mile in 45.75 over the fast main track.

Libby Lloyd and Dotsy took over from Girls Wear Pearls on the turn with the two fillies appearing to be full of run for the impending stretch drive, but it was Dotsy who found more as the field straightened away and kicked clear to a one-length advantage at the stretch call.

The Paco Lopez-piloted Rum Twist had stalked the leaders from fourth position through the early stages and was making her best run late. However, Rum Twist raced greenly in the late stages and drifted in as Dotsy stayed on gamely to the wire to score by 2 3/4-lengths in a final time of 1:36.07.

Carmouche said he was impressed with the stakes debut from Dotsy.

“The filly broke so good. I never took it away from her. I had horse the whole race,” Carmouche said. “Mr. John Grabowski has done such an amazing job with this filly, getting her back to the races after Saratoga. I’m just so proud of this filly. She relaxed good, when I asked her to quicken, she quickened. She can be anything. The further, the better. She’s a monster.”

Grabowski said he was confident when Dotsy made the lead at the top of the lane.

“I knew she was at least going to be right there. I know this filly fights really hard, and when she does make the lead, she won’t give it up,” Grabowski said. “She’ll relax and waits a little bit, so I think there’s more to come with this filly, at least I hope. Kendrick and I need to discuss where we’re going with her, because I really wasn’t planning on going to the Breeders’ Cup. We have to think about it. We’re going home to Finger Lakes tomorrow.”

Rum Twist completed the exacta by 1 1/4-lengths over Revenge of the Sis with another 4 1/4-lengths back to Libby Lloyd in fourth. They were followed by Velora, Girls Wear Pearls and She’s a Twelve.

Lopez said the Mark Hennig-trained Rum Twist, a maiden winner at third asking last out at the Spa, may have tired late on.

“She ran very good. I had perfect position. It was a little tight, so I let her go in a little bit. She ran great, my filly,” Lopez said. “I saw the five [Dotsy], he [Carmouche] was very comfortable with the hands, so I tried to follow. Then, my filly tired a little at the end.”

Hennig said Rum Twist could come under consideration for a trip to the Breeders’ Cup.

“I really think she’d like two turns where she can shut off around the first turn,” Hennig said. “I think she was a little keen today because it’s run more like a sprint around one turn. We’ll consider it [the Breeders’ Cup] and see how she does and talk it over.”

Dotsy, a half-sister to multiple stakes-winner Dirt Monster, is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Coqui – a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Voodoo. Her second dam is the multiple graded stakes-placed multiple stakes-winner Slide Show.

Bred in Kentucky by Scott Pierce and Debbie Pierce, Dotsy banked $275,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-for-2. She returned $25.02 for a $2 win bet.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont Park with a 10-race card. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

General admission at Belmont Park is available for $7 when purchased in advance and provides fans with access to grandstand seats on most days, all areas within the first floor of the grandstand and the backyard. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/tickets/.

America’s Day at the Races presents daily coverage and analysis of the fall meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont Park, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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