Gulfstream: Into Champagne Returns ‘Stronger’ for G3 Hurricane Bertie

By David Joseph —-

Into Champagne; Lauren King Photo
Into Champagne Returns ‘Stronger’ for G3 Hurricane Bertie

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Six Columns Stables LLC, Randall Bloch, Jen Gladden, Mike Davis and Michael Steele’s Into Champagne will face a demanding challenge when she returns from a 10-month layoff in the $165,000 Hurricane Bertie (G3) at Gulfstream Park.

The 4-year-old daughter of Into Mischief is set to clash with multiple graded-stakes winner Spirit Wind and five other older fillies and mares in the 6 ½-furlong sprint that will co-headline Saturday’s 11-race program with the $165,000 Silks Run, a five-furlong turf dash for 4-year-olds and up.

Into Champagne, who finished seventh in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs May 3 before going to the sidelines, and trainer Ian Wilkes have faced a similar challenge last season at Gulfstream with very positive results.

The $300,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September sale, who is rated third at 4-1 on the morning line, was most impressive on debut, scoring by 6 ¾ lengths at Ellis Park in June 2023, before going on a hiatus for nearly seven months. She returned to action last January with an off-the pace victory in the 6 ½-furlong Glitter Woman stakes.

“Being a little older against a better class of horse now makes it a little tougher,” Wilkes said. “But she has been working well. I think she is stronger now than she was last year.”

Into Champagne was impressive in defeat in her graded-stakes debut in her next start, falling just a half-length short of victory in a second-place finish in the mile Davona Dale (G2). After contesting the pace into the stretch in her two-turn debut in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), she weakened late to finish third but accumulated enough qualifying points to run in the Kentucky Oaks. The Kentucky-bred filly was in contention in the 1 1/8-mile Oaks before weakening late.

“We took a shot in the Oaks. We all knew in the back of our minds that it was a bit far for her,” Wilkes said. “We’ll stay at the sprinting distance now. Anywhere from six to seven furlongs will be ideal for her.”

Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez is scheduled to ride Into Champagne for the first time.

Miller Racing LLC’s Spirit Wind enters the Hurricane Bertie in winning form, coming off a victory in the 5 ½-furlong Poinsettia Stakes at Oaklawn Dec. 24. The 6-year-old daughter of Bahamian Squall, favored at 8-5 on the morning line, has won eight of 16 careers starts, including a victory in the Honorable Miss (G2) at Saratoga last summer.

“She’s a very consistent mare. She was good horse before we got her and she’s carried on to be a good mare,” said Saffie Joseph Jr. who took over training the Florida-bred mare following a private purchase a year ago. “She likes Gulfstream. She’s back here now. Six-and-a-half {furlongs}is probably the max distance-wise, but it’s well within her reach. Hopefully, she’ll put it a big performance.”

Spirit Wind will be joined in the starting gate by Joseph stablemates R Disaster and Save Time.

Averill Racing LLC and Two-Eight Racing LLC’s R Disaster is a speedster who has won four of six starts with two second-place finishes. Joseph is well aware that Spirit Wind and R Disaster both figure to be forwardly placed from the start of the Hurricane Bertie.

“They do have similar styles, but Spirit Wind can sit off it a little bit. R Disaster’s never sat. She’s speed. Spirit Wind is versatile,” Joseph said. “They’re both forward-running horses – that’s why we put Save Time in there – if the race falls apart. Save Time is not fast on numbers, but I really like that horse. She hasn’t shown it yet, but I really like that horse a lot.”

Luis Saez is set to ride Spirit Wind for the first time, while Edgard Zayas is named on R Disaster and Drayden Van Dyke has the call on Miller Racing LLC’s Save Time, who broke her maiden last time out.

Stephen Rousseau’s Nic’s Style is rated second at 9-5 on the morning line off a record of six wins and one second in seven career starts. The Bill Mott trainee debuted with a 6 ½ victory and came back to win an optional claiming allowance by 10 ¼ lengths last season at Gulfstream. The 5-year-old daughter of Uncaptured is coming off back-to-back stakes victories at Tampa Bay Downs.

Junior Alvarado has the call on Nic’s Style.

Paterpop Racing LLC’s Ruthless Rua and Starry Night Racing’s Done Enough round out the field.

About The Stronach Group and 1/ST

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The Stronach Group’s 1/ST business (pronounced “First”) is North America’s preeminent Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering company and includes the 1/ST RACING & GAMING, 1/ST CONTENT, 1/ST TECHNOLOGY and 1/ST EXPERIENCE businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST HORSE CARE mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST RACING & GAMING drives the best-in-class racing operations and gaming offerings at the company’s premier racetracks, training centers and premier events including: Santa Anita Park and San Luis Rey Downs (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup and Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center (Florida); Laurel Park, The Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST CONTENT is the operating group for 1/ST’s media and content companies including: Monarch Content Management, Elite, TSG Global Wagering Solutions (GWS) and 1/ST TV. 1/ST TECHNOLOGY is racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX and Betmix brands. 1/ST EXPERIENCE blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality through innovative content development, elevated national and local venue management and hospitality, strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and procurement development. As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST HORSE CARE represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. The Stronach Group’s TSG Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, play and work communities surrounding its racing venues including: The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). For more information email david.joseph@GulfstreamPark.com and visit www.1st.com or follow @1ST_racing on Twitter or @1stracing on Instagram and Facebook.