Champagne Stakes Field Honors Johnny Gaudreau's Memory

Champagne Stakes Field Honors Johnny Gaudreau's Memory

When racing fans hear the name Champagne Stakes, they think about rising star 2-year-olds, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Kentucky Derby prospects, and some of the great Thoroughbreds of all time among the list of winners. But for this year’s $500,000, one-mile race Saturday at Belmont Park, there will be a distinct theme from a different sport: ice hockey. Read More...

Head to Head: Champagne Stakes is a sparkling rematch

Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes at the rebuilt Belmont Park offers a Breeder’s Cup Juvenile berth and qualifying points toward Kentucky Derby 2027, so the bubbly will be flowing for the winner. Gaudreau and U. S. S. Valor have their second encounter and will take on stakes-placed Raku, a half-brother to Further Ado and other last-out maiden winners. Scheduled as race 8 on an 11-race card featuring six graded stakes, the Champagne h…