Pedigree fun facts: 2022 Champagne Stakes
Oct 01, 2022
All six entrants in Saturday’s Champagne (G1) have pedigree ties to the historic contest for two-year-olds.
Triple Crown champion Justify has two chances to sire a Champagne winner in his first crop – Verifying, the 9-5 morning-line favorite, and Champions Dream. Although Justify was unraced at two, he hails from a male line of juvenile stars. Justify is by Scat Daddy, hero of the 2006 Champagne and himself a son of transatlantic champion Johannesburg.
Verifying is a half-brother to champion filly Midnight Bisou. They were both produced by Diva Delite, a daughter of Repent, who ironically was runner-up to Johannesburg in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). Champions Dream is out of Dancinginherdreams, a Grade 2-winning daughter of Tapit.
Justify’s Triple Crown rival Good Magic has a first-crop contender in Blazing Sevens. By Hall of Famer Curlin, Good Magic was a close second to Firenze Fire in the 2017 Champagne before his maiden-breaking win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Their old Champagne battle takes on new life Saturday, for Andiamo a Firenze is a three-quarter brother to Firenze Fire.
Andiamo a Firenze is by Speightstown, while Firenze Fire is by Speightstown’s son Poseidon’s Warrior. Their dam, My Every Wish, would become the first mare in more than half a century to produce two Champagne winners. The most recent is champion filly and Broodmare of the Year Misty Morn, dam of Bold Lad (1964) and the aptly-named Successor (1966).
Gulfport hopes to follow in the hoofsteps of his sire, champion Uncle Mo, and not his broodmare sire, Unbridled’s Song. Uncle Mo romped in the 2010 Champagne en route to his Eclipse-clinching Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Unbridled’s Song tired to fourth in the 1996 Champagne, but rebounded in the Breeders’ Cup.
Unbridled’s Song also factors as the paternal grandsire of Top Recruit. That colt is by the Unbridled’s Song stallion Midshipman, who emulated his sire by winning the Juvenile. Top Recruit’s dam, stakes-placed Oh So Bella, is a daughter of champion Afleet Alex. The standout of the Saratoga two-year-old scene in 2004, Afleet Alex suffered his first career loss when runner-up in that fall’s Champagne.
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