It’s Our Time rides impressive debut to G1 Champagne; G1 Frizette Preview

Posted On 30 Sep 2025

By Christian Abdo —-

It’s Our Time rides impressive debut to G1 Champagne

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Double Down Horse Racing’s It’s Our Time rides a dominant debut score into Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, a one-turn mile for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Champagne is a “Win and You’re In” qualifying event for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on October 31 at Del Mar and also offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Tom Amoss, the Not This Time dark bay was bumped at the start of his 6 1/2-furlong debut on August 16 at Saratoga Race Course, recovering to stalk the favored Hero Declared, taking command by the five-sixteenths and building a 10-length lead by the stretch call.

It’s Our Time, while geared down under returning rider Luis Saez, extended to a 17 3/4-length victory over the Whit Beckman-trained Hero Declared in a final time of 1:15.63. The performance earned an impressive 94 Beyer Speed Figure and stood out among a bustling Grade 1 Alabama Day at the Spa.

“That performance was certainly eye-opening,” Amoss said. “Now, he has to do it against accomplished horses. I think there is a bit of a target on his back. He has to show he can do it again because that was such a talked about race. He has a lot to live up to.”

Amoss said he liked the idea of stretching It’s Our Time out to the one-turn mile.

“He ran an exceptionally quick time, and although he finished up with a lot of energy and galloped out very well, as a trainer, I’m training to transition him to go more distance gradually and we have this option of going a one-turn mile,” said Amoss. “That is a luxury, versus a two-turn race, which is why we are doing it.”

It’s Our Time [post 6, Luis Saez] completed his preparations with a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.40 in company with Spa debut-winner Big Dom on September 27 at Churchill Downs.

“They went with each other, and it was a workout that we had designed for them to stay together,” Amoss said. “Neither of them were asked for a lot in the last part of the work. It was more of a stamina style work.”

Bred in Virginia by South Gate Farm, It’s Our Time, a $425,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, is out of the multiple stakes-winning Summer Front mare Shea D Summer. His third dam, Circle of Gold, is a full-sister to multiple Grade 1-winner Flanders – the Champion 2-Year-Old Filly of 1994.

Gold Square’s Napoleon Solo [post 8, Joel Rosario] graduated impressively in his six-furlong debut on August 8 at the Spa. Trained by Chad Summers, the Liam’s Map gray was hustled to a forward stalking position, taking command at the half-mile call and drawing clear to a 5 1/4-length victory in a final time of 1:11.14.

“This has been our plan,” Summers said. “He broke his maiden, then we held our tongue and skipped the Hopeful [September 1], which would’ve been coming back in 24 days. Obviously, everyone is going to know where Tom Amoss’ horse is. I think it is a little bit of a different situation for Tom Amoss than when he was under the radar against Whit’s horse.”

Napoleon Solo’s performance earned an 83 Beyer and Napoleon Solo has worked back four times since, posting three consecutive bullets including a half-mile in 47.40 seconds on September 26 over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“He’s had three really good workouts going into this race,” Summers said. “The gallop outs have been the best part of the works. When you are stretching out from six furlongs to one mile with a second time starter, that is not an easy thing to do. We are hopeful he will be able to see out the mile distance.”

Napoleon Solo, a $40,000 purchase at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, is out of the stakes-winning Scat Daddy mare Atomic Blonde.

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Curtain Call [post 1, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] was an 8 1/2-length third to Ted Noffey last out in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful on September 1 at Saratoga. Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Tiz the Law dark bay was stepping up in class from a 8 1/2-length second-out graduation after slightly stumbling at the break sprinting six furlongs over sloppy and sealed footing on July 12 there.

Curtain Call earned an 82 Beyer in the Hopeful, matching his career-best from his maiden win which avenged a 7 1/2-length debut second in June at Churchill Downs to next-out Grade 3-winner Obliteration. A $325,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, Curtain Call is out of the Into Mischief mare Deep Trouble.

Casse also entered Ironhorse Racing Stable’s Just Asap [post 5, Florent Geroux] off a prominent neck second to One More Freud in the one-mile Sapling on August 30 at Monmouth Park. The Maxfield bay improved to a career-best 80 Beyer from a 60 for a dominant pacesetting graduation in a seven-furlong maiden optional claimer on August 4 at Ellis Park.

Just Asap, a $50,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, is out of the Grade 3-placed Paynter mare Movie Moment. His second dam, dual Grade 1-winner Starrer, produced Star Act, the dam of 2023 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Just F Y I.

Robert Cotran’s Aye Eye [post 4, Samuel Marin] generated significant buzz with an eye-catching last-to-first rally from 19 lengths back in his six-furlong debut on August 8 at Saratoga. Trained by Joe Orseno, the Essential Quality gray did not replicate the performance in the Grade 1 Champagne last out, passing tired foes for a distant fifth.

Rounding out the field is Talkin [post 9, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Danny Gargan and the maiden Stradale [post 2, Manny Franco] for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the respective one-two finishers from a seven-furlong maiden on August 30 at Saratoga; as well as a pair of maiden winners for trainer Ken McPeek with Universe [post 3, Chris Elliott] and Stickupwithoutagun [post 7, Luis Rivera, Jr.].

The Champagne is slated as Race 7 on Saturday’s 12-race card, which features two more Breeders’ Cup qualifying events with the “Dirt Dozen” Grade 1 Frizette [Juvenile Fillies] in Race 6 and “Win and You’re In” Grade 2 Miss Grillo [Juvenile Fillies Turf] in Race 8. The card is supported by the Grade 2 Jockey Club Derby Inv. [Race 4] and the restricted $125,000 Discovery [Race 2]. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

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

Carmel Coast stretches out in G1 Frizette

By Keith McCalmont

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Legion Racing, MHM Stables, Ed Stefanski and William Conlin’s Carmel Coast will look to build upon an impressive debut win when stretching out to a one-turn mile in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette for 2-year-old fillies, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Frizette is a part of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Dozen series for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The nominated winner of the Frizette will receive a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees, with the second and third places 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 at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Whit Beckman, Carmel Coast [post 2, Kendrick Carmouche] earned a lofty 86 Beyer Speed Figure for her 5 1/2-length debut win on August 10 at Saratoga Race Course.

There, with returning rider Kendrick Carmouche up, the Omaha Beach dark bay broke inward before taking command through splits of 22.29 seconds and 46.21 over the fast main track. She opened up by 5 1/2-lengths at the stretch call and was geared down through the final sixteenth to cover 6 1/2-furlongs in a final time of 1:17.25.

“She had always trained very well,” Beckman said. “Whenever they win as easily and professionally as she did, you take it in stride – we always thought she was nice, but we didn’t expect her to win by that much.

“It was a nice debut and we’re excited to see how she handles the increase in distance and stakes company,” he added.

Beckman opted to forego the Grade 1 Spinaway on September 1 at the Spa and instead train Carmel Coast up to the Frizette. She has worked regularly since over the Spa’s Oklahoma training track.

“The Spinaway was back a little quick and this was a better stepping stone for her. She’s been training very well up there,” Beckman said.

Beckman indicated the $120,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale purchase should handle the stretch out in distance.

“I don’t think she’ll have any problem with it,” Beckman said. “She’s grown and is just a very well put together, well-balanced filly. She’s very athletic.”

Carmel Coast is out of the Arch mare Carmel Beauty, a full-sister to dual Grade 1-winner Arravale, who was named Canada’s Horse of the Year and Champion Grass Mare in 2006.

Edward Childs and R.A. Hill Stable’s New York-bred Iron Orchard [post 6, Joel Rosario] will put her undefeated record on the line when she steps into open stakes company for the first time for trainer Danny Gargan.

The Authentic dark bay won twice in frontrunning fashion at the Spa this summer, scoring by 5 1/2-lengths on debut on July 3 in a 5 1/2-furlong sprint restricted to New York-breds or horses that sold or RNA’d for $60,000 or less. She followed with a 6 3/4-length romp in the Seeking the Ante on August 22 that garnered an 81 Beyer.

Iron Orchard, by Pine Ridge Stable, was purchased for $500,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training where she worked in 9.4. She is out of the multiple stakes-placed Brethren mare Onebrethatatime, who is a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Wonderlandbynight.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, a four-time Frizette winner, has entered Saratoga maiden winners Steer Clear [post 10, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] and Lovely Christina [post 11, Junior Alvarado] and the one-start maiden Icecreamforevryone [post 8, Luis Saez].

Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable’s Steer Clear, by Street Sense, pressed the pace in an August 2 maiden sprint at the Spa only to be collared late by well-regarded $1.1 million sales purchase Ornellaia.

Steer Clear was entered in the Spinaway but scratched in favor of a seven-furlong maiden on August 29 which she wired by 1 1/4-lengths over Americathegreat, who exited that effort to graduate over the weekend at Churchill Downs.

The $575,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase, out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Simply Sunny, is a half-sister to Group 3-winner Fore Left.

Leland Ackerley Racing’s Lovely Christina, by Vekoma, graduated at second asking in a six-furlong maiden on August 31. She dueled the pacesetting All About You before taking control out of the turn and stopping the clock in a final time of 1:11.42 – good for a 72 Beyer.

The $425,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase is out of the graded stakes-winning Wildcat Heir mare Daring Kathy.

Repole Stable’s Icecreamforevryone, by Gun Runner, had a troubled start in her August 23 debut sprinting 6 1/2-furlongs at Saratoga, breaking inward from post 6 and bumping with rivals before settling in sixth-of-7. She advanced through the turn and made a five-wide bid to finish a half-length second to returning rival Five Bars.

The $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale purchase is out of the Grade 2-placed Cuvee mare Curlina.

A robust field includes a talented trio from Saffie Joseph, Jr. in Spinaway third-place finisher Rileytole [post 3, Reylu Gutierrez], Gulfstream Park maiden winner Secane [post 5, Edgard Zayas] and three-start maiden Jetty’s Home [post 1, Jaime Rodriguez].

William and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Rileytole, by Mitole, graduated in her July 27 debut at Gulfstream Park by 1 1/2-lengths over next-out maiden winning stablemate Mystical Belle. She went to post at odds of 28-1 in the Spinaway and landed 11 1/4-lengths back of the well-regarded victorious Pletcher trainee Tommy Jo.

“Obviously, it was great to get that third for a Grade 1 placing on her resume. I think that Todd’s filly was in a different class. Going one mile would probably help her, but she’ll have to improve,” Joseph Jr. said.

Final Furlong Farm’s Pennsylvania-bred Secane earned a 74 Beyer for her 7 3/4-length debut score sprinting seven-furlongs on August 15 at Gulfstream. The $67,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is by Audible and out of the Street Sense mare Lustica – a half-sister to Grade 3-winner Elsa.

Joseph, Jr. said Secane has trained well out of her debut score, including a half-mile work in 48.45 Saturday over the Palm Meadows Training Center dirt.

“Very good debut. Going as a first-time winner to a Grade 1 is a very tough thing, but she had a good work, and we like the step from seven eighths to a mile,” Joseph, Jr. said. “It’s a natural progression to a one-turn mile – you would think because she got seven-eighths, she should get a one-turn mile. It makes sense to go here.”

Daniel Alonso and Miller Racing purchased Jetty’s Home privately after a runner-up effort on July 12 at the Spa when 3 1/2-lengths back of eventual Grade 3-placed Spa Prospector. The Enticed bay followed with a prominent second in a restricted maiden on August 21 at Saratoga. Her third dam, Pretty U, is a full-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Pomeroys Pistol.

Selective’s Chopsticks [post 7, Florent Geroux] will look to double up on stakes scores for dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox.

The Essential Quality gray won a key maiden race sprinting six furlongs on debut June 27 at Churchill Downs when three lengths the better of Sina, who completed the exacta by a head over Go to Girl. The second and third-place finishers returned to win with Sina later finishing sixth in the Spinaway.

Chopsticks followed with a stalking one-length score in the Listed Debutante sprinting seven furlongs on August 10 at Ellis Park to become her sire’s first stakes winner. The $300,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the Grade 2-placed More Than Ready mare Miss Southern Miss.

Also entered are Saratoga debut maiden winners Five Bars for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey [post 9, Manny Franco] and New York-bred Rina’s Revenge [post 4, Christopher Elliott] for trainer Kenny McPeek.

The Frizette is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s loaded 12-race card that features a pair of Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifiers for 2-year-olds with the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne [Juvenile], a one-turn mile in Race 7 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo [Juvenile Fillies Turf] at 1 1/16-miles for fillies in Race 8. The stacked program is supported by the Grade 2, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational in Race 4, and the restricted $125,000 Discovery in Race 2. First post is 12:10 p.m. Eastern.

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Contact: Keith McCalmont