Expert Pick of the Week: 2022 Champagne Stakes

Sep 29, 2022 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

A talented field of six juveniles will travel one mile on the Aqueduct main surface in Saturday’s $500,000 Champagne S. (G1). The all-important two-year-old dash acts as a 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby series event, with the top five finishers earning points towards the Run for the Roses on a 10-4-3-2-1 basis.

Gulfport was spectacular in his first pair of tries at Churchill Downs, winning on debut by seven lengths prior to strolling home a fantastic, 12-length victor of the Bashford Manor S. The son of Uncle Mo has since been second-best in two straight, but he still rates the one to beat while making his local bow. He is the Expert Pick of the Week.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the $275,000 yearling purchase was a troubled second in the Saratoga Special S. (G2) two back, prior to coming home a clear runner-up in the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga last time out. The April foal has trained well in the interim with two solid morning breezes on the Oklahoma training track, and I expect the bay to force the pace from the start before taking over in the stretch while making his one-mile debut. Jose Ortiz inherits the mount atop the Kentucky-bred.

The Brad Cox-conditioned Verifying was a smashing first-out winner at Saratoga while coming home fast in a six-furlong dash on Travers Day. By Justify, the expensive $775,000 yearling purchase led at every call en route to a 1 3/4-length score, defeating a few nice prospects in the process. Kentucky-bred colt shows a pair of bullet half-mile drills in preparation for his stakes bow, and the bay appears to have a very high ceiling going forward, as well.

Verifying displayed both early speed and a nice turn of foot during his unveiling, and a forward move will make him a formidable foe at Aqueduct. Joel Rosario, who guided the youngster home at first calling, retains the mount atop the exciting prospect.

An exacta with Gulfport on top of Verifying in the Champagne Stakes is the Best Bet of the Week.