Study Guide: 2026 Champagne Stakes

Sep 28, 2026 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

U. S. S. Valor broke his maiden in spectacular fashion at Saratoga (Photo by Chris Rahayel/Coglianese Photos)

Some of the most promising two-year-olds in training will face off in Saturday’s $500,000 Champagne (G1), a Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier taking place over one mile at Belmont Park.

The Champagne has produced 23 Kentucky Derby winners through the years, most recently Super Saver in 2010. Recent Champagne alumni include Good Magic, Code of Honor, and Tiz the Law, who finished second in three straight Kentucky Derbys from 2018 through 2020.

Let’s take a horse-by-horse tour through the 2026 Champagne field:

Johnny Hockey

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Next Level Stables
Breeder: Charles F. Engel
Trainer: Antonio Arriaga
Jockey: Katie Davis

Top Speed Rating: (74) when winning a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $57,238

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Emilia’s Moon
Color: Chestnut

Johnny Hockey has shown flashes of talent, most notably winning a six-furlong maiden special weight at Monmouth Park. But he’s 0-for-5 competing on the New York circuit, and his career-best 74 Brisnet Speed rating suggests he’ll need a step forward to challenge in this deep Champagne field.

Raku

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Conover Stable
Breeder: Columbiana Farm
Trainer: Kelly Breen
Jockey: Paco Lopez

Top Speed Rating: (80) when finishing second in the Sapling S. at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $44,600

Sire: Kantharos
Dam: Retort
Color: Bay

Raku won his debut at Monmouth Park, then finished second by a nose in the one-mile Sapling over the same track. His experience competing against stakes competition is appealing, but his career-best 80 Brisnet Speed ratings looks a bit light compared to the Champagne favorites.

Gaudreau

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Year Racing, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Stable, and Swift Thoroughbreds
Breeder: Coteau Grove Farms
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Flavien Prat

Top Speed Rating: (90) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $63,250

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Free Cover
Color: Bay

Gaudreau debuted in a deep 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga, winning by half a length over Coach Pope and U. S. S. Valor, who have since posted runaway maiden wins of their own. In the process, Gaudreau earned a sharp 90 Brisnet Speed rating. Trainer Chad Brown has won five of the last 10 editions of the Champagne, and Gaudreau has a strong chance to boost Brown’s Champagne win tally to six.

👑𝗚𝗔𝗨𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗨 digs deep and wins R1 at Saratoga on debut.

The 2y/o colt is trained by Chad Brown with Flavien Prat aboard. pic.twitter.com/kqWvCX5MKS

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 8, 2026

Club Reign

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Ribble Farms, Three Brand Racing, and Walmac Farm
Breeder: Gary Broad – Walmac Farm
Trainer: Whit Beckman
Jockey: Edgard Zayas

Top Speed Rating: (87) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $63,250

Sire: Core Beliefs
Dam: Bag of Tricks
Color: Dark bay/brown

Club Reign was much the best when debuting in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga, pulling away down the homestretch to win by six lengths with an 87 Brisnet Speed rating. A top-three finish in the Champagne is well within reach.

U. S. S. Valor

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: Team Valor International
Breeder: Team Valor International
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (105) when winning a maiden special weight at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $77,050

Sire: War of Will
Dam: Spangled Banner
Color: Bay

The horse to beat in the Champagne is U. S. S. Valor. Although he finished behind Gaudreau in his first start, he subsequently obliterated a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga by 13 1/4 lengths, earning a powerful 105 Brisnet Speed rating. A similar performance in the Champagne will make U. S. S. Valor formidable.

What an impressive win by U. S. S. VALOR! 🇺🇸

He breaks his maiden in the opener under @jockeyfranco for trainer Shug McGaughey. pic.twitter.com/b4vulYkGBU

— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) September 5, 2026

Earth Song

Start(s): 1
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Amo Racing USA
Breeder: John C. Oxley
Trainer: Jorge Delgado
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (83) when winning a maiden special weight at Monmouth Park.
Total Earnings: $24,600

Sire: Justify
Dam: Sky Dreamer
Color: Bay

Earth Song had no difficulty winning his debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Monmouth Park, overcoming a slow start to triumph by 11 1/4 lengths. However, he beat only two rivals, and the 83 Brisnet Speed rating he received suggests he’ll need at least a small step forward to challenge the Champagne favorites.