Adam Coglianese Photo

Chancer McPatrick stays undefeated with impressive G1 Champagne score

by Brian Bohl

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, this time registering a last-to-first trip that culminated in running down Tip Top Thomas from the outside and powering home a 2 3/4-length winner in the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne, a one-turn mile for juveniles, at Belmont at the Big A.

Chancer McPatrick improved to 3-for-3 to start his career in capturing the 153rd running of the Champagne, a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 1 at Del Mar that also offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby.

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 seconds 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 towards 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 four-time Eclipse Award-winner 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 September 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.

“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."

Hall of Famer 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.”

Live racing resumes Sunday at Aqueduct with a nine-race card featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame in Race 2; the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo in Race 6; and the Grade 3, $175,000 Matron in Race 8. First post is 12:40 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.