U.S.S. Valor looks for more smooth sailing in G1 Champagne; Grade Futurity Preview

Posted On 29 Sep 2026

By Mary Eddy —-

U.S.S. Valor looks for more smooth sailing in G1 Champagne

ELMONT, N.Y. – Team Valor International’s Kentucky homebred U.S.S. Valor was a no-doubt winner of a last-out maiden at Saratoga Race Course, and will look to build upon that effort in Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, a one-turn mile for juveniles, at Belmont Park.

The Champagne [Race 8] offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in October at Keeneland, and is one of six graded events on Saturday’s loaded 11-race program. The card also features three additional “Win and You’re In” events in the Grade 2, $250,000 Miss Grillo [Juvenile Fillies Turf] in Race 7, the Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim [Juvenile Turf] in Race 11 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity [Juvenile Turf Sprint] in Race 10 to go with the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette [Race 9], a Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” race that offers the top-three with entry credits to Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Those events are supported by the Grade 3, $200,000 Matron in Race 6. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

The Champagne also awards the top-five finishers 10-5-3-2-1 respective qualifying points towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs.

U.S.S. Valor enters the Champagne off a 13 1/4-length trouncing of a seven-furlong maiden on September 5 at Saratoga Race Course, where he dazzled with his pacesetting effort when dueling for the early lead through the first quarter-mile and drawing off with ease to win geared down under Manny Franco in a final time of 1:22.04. He earned a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest of any juvenile this year, and eight points higher than the second-best figure, earned by the filly Summer Starlet in the Grade 1 Spinaway on the same card at the Spa.

The effort came on the heels of a promising debut on August 8 at the Spa, landing a three-quarter-length third in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden that was won by returning rival Gaudreau with impressive next-out maiden-winner Coach Pope finishing a neck better than U.S.S. Valor for second. There, U.S.S. Valor emerged from the inside post and rallied from sixth-of-8 with a strong late foot after being steadied at the five-sixteenths.

McGaughey said U.S.S. Valor was ready to run first out, and gained valuable experience in that effort.

“I think he was [ready], but I didn’t want to run him three-quarters [6 1/2 furlongs], I just wanted to run him. Then he drew the one post, so I thought it was a very good learning experience,” McGaughey said. “He came out of it really good and obviously he ran very well the next time. I was expecting him to run good, but I didn’t expect him to run like that.”

The son of War of Will – who now stands in New York at Rockridge Stud – has impressed his connections since his days as an early 2-year-old learning the ropes at Barry Eisaman’s farm in Williston, F.L.

“He’s always been pretty straightforward,” McGaughey said. “A friend of mine broke him in Kentucky and then we sent him to Barry Eisaman and he said, ‘this horse is OK.’ We picked him up and he’s been forward ever since.”

The bay colt has worked back twice over the Belmont main track since his maiden win, breezing a half-mile in 48.66 seconds on September 19 and the same distance in 49 flat on September 25.

“He worked excellent and I couldn’t ask for any more,” McGaughey said.

McGaughey enters the Champagne in strong Belmont form, having already won 3-of-6 starts since the return to racing on September 18.

“It’s exciting,” the veteran conditioner said. “Obviously we’ve gotten off to a good start and hopefully we can continue that.”

Franco returns to the irons from post 5.

U.S.S. Valor will face a rematch with the well-regarded Gaudreau [post 3, Flavien Prat], who makes his first appearance since the aforementioned maiden win on August 8 for five-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner Chad Brown.

Campaigned by Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Stable and Swift Thoroughbreds, the son of Nyquist showed early speed under Flavien Prat and pressed the pace set by Bellissimo d’Oro, who marked the opening quarter-mile in 22.38 over the fast footing.

Gaudreau was asked for his best through the half-mile in 45.23 and kicked clear straightening for home, digging in gamely to stave off the late rush of Coach Pope and U.S.S. Valor in a final time of 1:16.41. Gaudreau earned an 89 Beyer for the win. Eighth-place finisher Hemingway also exited that race to graduate when switched to the turf on September 6 at Kentucky Downs.

Gaudreau remained at Saratoga with a focus on this race, and posted his final breeze on September 26 when covering a half-mile in 49.83 over the Oklahoma dirt training track. He was expected to arrive at Belmont Park on Sunday.

“That was one of those key Saratoga races for sure,” Brown said. “He’s doing well and had his final piece of work in Saratoga. We’re looking forward to running him back here and that’s been the plan all along.”

The Louisiana-bred was a $220,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale and is out of the stakes-placed Congrats mare Free Cover, a full-sister to stakes-placed Victory is Sweet.

Brown praised the physical makeup of the bay colt, who is named for the late seven-time NHL All-Star Johnny Gaudreau.

“He’s a good-looking horse, typical of the sire – he throws good horses and really stamps them, and he’s no different, this fellow,” Brown said. “Athletic, strong, good-moving horse. Always trained really well.”

Ribble Farms, Three Brand Racing, and Walmac Farm’s Club Reign [post 4, Edgard Zayas] was also eye-catching in his debut this summer at Saratoga. Three Brand Racing is the nom de course of Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson, who was at the Spa for the maiden score along with his Grammy Award-winning wife Ciara and their family.

There, Club Reign pressed the early pace under returning rider Edgard Zayas and drew off with ease in a six-furlong sprint on August 29 to win by six lengths in a final time of 1:11.27 and earn a 73 Beyer.

Trained by Whit Beckman, the son of Core Beliefs was a $475,000 purchase at the OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the stakes-placed Bernardini mare Bag of Tricks, a half-sister to dual stakes-winner I’m Stoked. He has breezed twice since his maiden win, and covered a half-mile in 49.37 over Belmont’s Tapeta on September 27.

Amo Racing USA’s Earth Song [post 6, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] aired in his September 7 debut at Monmouth Park, cantering home an 11 1/4-length winner against two rivals after overcoming a slow break to press the pace and drawing off with ease in a final time of 1:10.43 under Daniel Centeno. He earned a 73 Beyer in victory.

Trained by Jorge Delgado, the Justify colt is a half-brother to Grade 1-winner Further Ado, who recently finished a half-length second to The Puma in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby. Earth Song was a $250,000 purchase at the OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and is out of the Grade 3-placed Sky Mesa mare Sky Dreamer. He is cross-entered in Saturday’s Rocky Run at Delaware Park.

Completing the field are the stakes-placed Raku [post 2, Paco Lopez], who was a nose second last out in the two-turn mile Sapling on September 5 at Monmouth for trainer Kelly Breen; and the Antonio Arriaga-trained maiden-winner Johnny Hockey [post 1, Katie Davis], who is also named for Johnny Gaudreau.

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.

Just Joe cuts back slightly in G3 Futurity

By Keith McCalmont —-

ELMONT, N.Y. – Just Joe will turn back slightly in distance for Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Futurity, at Belmont Park. The six-furlong inner turf sprint for 2-year-olds, which was inaugurated in 1888 and contested on turf for the first time in 2018, provides a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in October at Keeneland.

Trained by George Weaver for Black Type Thoroughbreds, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Andrew Atkinson, the Uncle Mo colt landed a 4 1/2-length eighth in his August 8 debut at Saratoga Race Course traveling 1 1/16-miles.

Just Joe [post 7, Flavien Prat] stepped back to 6 1/2-furlongs at second asking on September 7 at Kentucky Downs to secure an impressive maiden score. There, he broke outward from post 8-of-12 and rated in fifth position before rallying four-wide to arrive in the final jumps for a three-quarter length score over Take Charge Beach. He stopped the clock in 1:17.31 and earned a 65 Beyer Speed Figure.

“We ran the horse long, but his body type suggested maybe shorter is better,” Weaver said. “His performance running long suggested shorter is better, so we cut him back to 6 1/2-furlongs at Kentucky Downs and he won. We’ll keep him around one turn for the time being.”

Weaver said he was pleased with the Kentucky Downs win in which Just Joe earned the $102,000 winner’s share of the $180,800 available in the lucrative maiden tilt.

“It was a decent pot, and we thought on the cut back he would have a chance to do well. Luckily, he went over there and did what we were hoping he would do,” Weaver said.

The $185,000 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase is out of the Curlin mare Make a Wish, a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Slip Mahoney. Just Joe’s second dam is Grade 1-winner Got Lucky and the well-bred colt is a direct maternal descendant of Reine-de-Course mare Numbered Account.

Weaver said Just Joe has demonstrated the substance to match his family ties.

“He’s been a straightforward horse. He has a nice look to him and always catches your eye when he walks by,” Weaver said. “He’s got some class about him, so you can kind of see the pedigree shining through on him.”

Weaver won the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year with the filly Cy Fair but said he wasn’t certain he would turn back Just Joe to 5 1/2-furlongs at Keeneland.

“I’m not sure we’d want to cut him back even further. We’ll see how he handles the six [furlongs] and go from there,” Weaver said.

Repole Stable’s Pinpoint [post 9, Ricardo Santana, Jr.] graduated at second asking over the Spa main track on August 1 at odds of 12-1, leading gate-to-wire to score by 6 1/4-lengths in a six-furlong maiden sprint. The winning effort earned a 70 Beyer.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Not This Time colt followed with a 2 3/4-length third in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Juvenile Sprint on August 29 in his turf debut [69 Beyer] at Kentucky Downs.

“We thought he ran well at Kentucky Downs. We always felt he was going to be better on the turf, even though he broke his maiden on the dirt. He’s got a little experience now and hopefully makes another move forward,” said Pletcher, who will be looking for a sixth win in this event – but only his second on turf – following past success with King of the Roxy [2006 – as a G2 at seven furlongs on dirt], Overanalyze [2012 – as a G2 at six furlongs on dirt], Blofeld [2014 – as a G2 at six furlongs on dirt], Theory [2016 – as a G3 at six furlongs on dirt] and Mentee [2024].

Pinpoint is out of the Grade 2-placed Kantharos mare Magic Circle. His third dam, the multiple stakes-winning Elusive Quality mare Barracks Road, is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Leigh Court, Grade 3-winner Flying Scotsman and Grade 3-placed Bon Raison.

“He’s physically made like a turf horse – kind of a leggy, slender-made colt and his pedigree suggested turf could be an option,” said Pletcher.

HorseOlogy Racing, Fred Rosen, Steve Dervenis and Cliff Racing’s talented filly Luminous Beauty [post 4, Jose Morelos] was a neck second to Seneca Park when trying turf for the first time last out in the 6 1/2-furlong Listed Untapable on August 30 at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Jena Antonucci, the Flameaway dark bay previously made four dirt starts, including a dominant second-out graduation in June at the Spa and a second in the Grade 3 Adirondack in August there.

“She’s just kind of learned to settle into the job a little more,” Antonucci said. “When we start a lot of these young ones, they’re just running and I think she’s learned to be more tactical and understands the job a little bit more.”

Luminous Beauty, a $40,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling Sale purchase, is a full-sister to Panamanian multiple stakes-winner Flight Moon, out of the Grade 3-placed Into Mischief mare Sly Beauty. Her third dam, Vue, produced Grade 1-winners War Pass and Oath.

“It [switching to turf] was something we kind of had on the radar – when she did so well on the dirt, it’s kind of hard to heave-ho over to the grass,” Antonucci said. “Just from a pedigree point of view, it was worth taking a look at to make sure we weren’t leaving a stone unturned this early in her career. That was the impetus for it. It was met with some virtual and realistic question marks, but I think she did OK.”

Cherry Valley Farm’s Kentucky homebred Good to Be King [post 3, Manny Franco] enters from a three-quarter length second to Mid American in the Listed Juvenile Sprint on August 29 at Kentucky Downs.

Trained by Rusty Arnold, the War Front bay is a veteran of four starts, graduating second out in a dead heat with Sir Hansen in July traveling one-mile over good going at Ellis Park. He cut back to 5 1/2-furlongs for the Riverside Rush there on August 1 and closed from eighth-of-11 over yielding ground to finish a one-length third to the victorious Fanshell Beach, who was returning from a fifth in the Group 2 Norfolk in June at Royal Ascot.

Arnold said Good to Be King has found his niche as a sprinter.

“We probably found out what he wants to do,” Arnold said. “We started out and we weren’t sure; his first race was OK. In his second race, he dead-heated for the win and he just looked like he didn’t want the mile, so we backed him up and sprinted him and he ran very well to be third. He ran a very good second last time out, he was right there and maybe could have won with a little better trip, but that’s grass racing.”

Arnold said Good to Be King performed well over the undulating turf course at Kentucky Downs.

“He seemed to handle it well,” Arnold said. “It’s a little bit different but he’s really mature for a 2-year-old and does everything right. We’re very happy with him. He’s come out of the race very nice and it’s time to move forward.”

Although Good to Be King has raced well over good and yielding footing, the veteran conditioner said he’d prefer firmer footing for the colt, who will be cross-entered in the Grade 3 Indian Summer on October 4 at Keeneland.

“I want firm for him – we didn’t think he handled it [softer going] that well, I know he dead-heated for the win, but it looked like he was going to be an easy winner and kind of struggled on it, so we’re looking for firm ground,” Arnold said.

Good to Be King, if he runs, will look to provide Arnold a second victory in this event after Trapp Mountain survived an inquiry to win the 1988 renewal here when contested as a Grade 1 at seven furlongs on dirt.

Good to Be King is out of the winning Runhappy mare Gypsy Touch, a half-sister to 2012 Grade 1 Acorn-winner Contested and Grade 2-placed Mosler. His second dam, Gold Vault, is a half-sister to dual Grade 1-winner Pomeroy.

A talented field includes dirt stakes-winning filly My Kid’s Said No [post 1, Henrique Fausto Da Silva] for trainer Tena Birdwell; stakes-placed Uncle Kef [post 6, Jose Lezcano, hind shoes ON] for conditioner Kevin Rice; stakes-placed Regent’s Park [post 2, Paco Lopez] for trainer Jorge Delgado; stakes-placed maiden Golden Corsair [post 8, Dylan Davis, blinkers ON] for trainer Blake Kelly; and maiden winner Cactus Closer [post 5, Kendrick Carmouche] for trainer Dale Romans.

The Futurity is slated as Race 10 on Saturday’s stacked 11-race card that features three other “Win and You’re In” qualifiers in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne [Juvenile] in Race 8, the Grade 2, $250,000 Miss Grillo [Juvenile Fillies Turf] in Race 7, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Pilgrim [Juvenile Turf] in Race 11. The program is supported by the Grade 1, $500,000 Frizette [Dirt Dozen] in Race 9 and the Grade 3, $200,000 Matron in Race 6. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.