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Chancer McPatrick Keeps Record Perfect In 'Win & You're In' Champagne
Flanagan Racing’s Chancer McPatrick already had notched a Grade 1 win thanks to a half-length score in the Hopeful last month at Saratoga Race Course. He improved on his terrific career start with another victory Saturday when registering a last-to-first trip in the $500,000 Champagne (G1), a one-turn mile for juveniles at Belmont at the Big A.
Chancer McPatrick ran down Tip Top Thomas from the outside and powered home by 2 3/4 lengths while improving to 3-for-3 to start his career in capturing the Champagne, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, Nov. 1 a race that also offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers toward eligibility for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Chancer McPatrick not only secured an official spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile but could be the favorite in the $2 million contest. In the Champagne, Chancer McPatrick broke alertly from the outermost post 9 under Flavien Prat, but it was J J Zo Zo leading the field through the opening quarter-mile in :22.47 and the half in :45.59 over the fast main track.
Under Prat’s confident ride, Chancer McPatrick gained ground and was tipped out through the turn as Tip Top Thomas momentarily gained the edge on the field. Putting the leader in his sights, Chancer McPatrick found another gear and overtook Tip Top Thomas with ease, hitting the wire in 1:36.51 to remain undefeated.
Tip Top Thomas, a debut winner in August at Saratoga Race Course who was making his stakes debut, finished 4 3/4 lengths clear of the New York-bred Mo Plex for second to earn those five qualifying points towars the 2025 'Run for the Roses.' Smoken Wicked also garnered points with his fourth-place finish. Vekoma Rides, J J Zo Zo, Executive Order, Colonel Bob and Lethal Speed completed the order of finish, while Uncaged was scratched.
Trained by Chad Brown, Chancer McPatrick followed a familiar pattern established in his first two starts of stalking the pace from the rear of the field before closing strong; a tactic utilized with his half-length victory in the seven-furlong Hopeful on Sept. 2 and in his stylish July 27 debut at the Spa.
“He runs his races like he's a year older than he is,” Brown said. “He runs like an experienced, fit 3-year-old. He's got a long, strong run. He showed it in all three of his starts. The way he finished up and the way he relaxes, I don't see going two turns as a problem.
"It was a real strong run [in the stretch],” Brown added. “The horse that finished second was a smart winner at Saratoga and the figure came back really fast. I was in the race with a horse that ran third that I hold in high regard, so I knew he was real that horse. Super race to set those fractions and still be there late in the race with this horse.”
Off as the 1-2 favorite, Chancer McPatrick returned $3.10 on a $2 win wager and more than doubled his career bankroll to $495,000.
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“He jumped well,” Prat said. “He jumped running and it felt like they just ran away from me, but I was outside and it was nice so I could take my time. Then I was trying to save a bit of ground, but it felt like nothing was developing inside and I felt like I was traveling well, so I made a move on the outside. He was traveling well without doing too much, and when I called on him turning for home, he responded positively.”
Prat teamed up with Brown on a second Champagne winner in the last three editions, joining Blazing Sevens in 2022. The victory marked Brown's fifth overall Champagne score.
“When I made that move outside, he kind of made a move then he switched off again and then regrouped and made another run,” Prat said of Chancer McPatrick. “It’s nice to see that he has a few runs into him. That’s a good sign. I thought the pace was pretty strong and that hopefully they would come back to me. Last time, he broke in and it was a messy break. Today, he broke running and they just ran away from him. I guess that’s the way he wants to be ridden.”
Brown now has another live chance to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile after winning in 2017 with Good Magic, who had finished second in the Champagne.
"The horse I won with was pretty good. Ironically, the only time I won the Juvenile was when I got beat in the Champagne," Brown recalled. "Hopefully, this is the first year I can win with a Champagne winner."
Todd Pletcher, trainer of Tip Top Thomas, said he was proud of the colt’s effort and that the Breeders’ Cup remains a possibility.
“I thought the horse ran super - second time out and pretty solid fractions early on and kept trying to the wire,” Pletcher said. “He galloped out good. It was a good effort. I was hoping [he would hold him off] but that's a very good colt [Chancer McPatrick] and he had a little bit of an experience edge on us. I was proud of our horse's effort.”
Chancer McPatrick was the second Grade 1 winner Saturdday for four-time Grade 1 winner and Gainesway stallion McKinzie, whose daughter Scottish Lassie captured the Frizette, also at Belmont at the Big A.
Chancer McPatrick was bred in Kentucky by Rigney Racing LLC from Bernadreamy, by Bernardini. He was a $725,000 purchase by Kimmel and Sallusto, agent, in April at the OBS Spring Two-Year-Olds In Training Sale, where he was consigned by Caliente Thoroughbreds.
