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Champagne for Chancer McPatrick; Scottish Lassie Romps in Frizette

Chancer McPatrick is not only on his way to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) next month, he’s also on the Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1).

With a methodical outside run from last-to-first, Chancer McPatrick rolled to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $500,000 Champagne Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Aqueduct.

Chancer McPatrick. NYRA/Coglianese Photo.

Chancer McPatrick is headed to the Breeders’ Cup

Trained by Chad Brown, Chancer McPatrick won his second Grade 1 – he took the Hopeful on Sept. 2 at Saratoga – and is 3-for-3.

The victory over Tip Top Thomas, with Mo Plex third, earned the son of McKinzie an all-fees paid, automatic berth in the BC Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. Additionally, the Champagne is part of the road to the Derby with the winner awarded 10 qualifying points.

In the other Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ race at the Big A, Scottish Lassie pulled away for a nine-length win in the $400,000 Frizette Stakes (G1) to gain a berth in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Odds-on favorite Senza Parole was scratched.

The 1-mile Champagne flowed smoother than the 7-furlong Hopeful for Flavien Prat, when the jockey lost his irons after a bumpy start but still managed to guide Chancer McPatrick to the win.

Breaking from the outside post 10, Chancer McPatrick bided his time behind the field for the first half mile. And then he was taken outside and began his charge around the turn and into the stretch. He easily caught and passed leader Tip Top Thomas outside the sixteenth pole and won in 1:36.51.

 


“Momentarily there I thought he was a little too far back but Flavien rides him with so much confidence and he told me, ‘Once I asked him to go, he made up a lot of ground really fast and in hand.’ He felt he was always there for him whenever he wanted,’’ Brown said.

“He runs his races like he’s a year older than he is. 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.”

Tip Top Thomas ran a strong race in just his second start, and trainer Todd Pletcher said the BC Juvenile would be discussed. Trainer Jeremiah Englehart said his third-place finisher Mo Plex also will be considered for the Juvenile.

Frizette Stakes: Scottish Lassie Rolls Over Foes

Scottish Lassie ($15) not only broke her maiden in the 1-mile Frizette, but gave trainer Jorge Abreu his first graded stakes win with an impressive stretch run for a nine-length victory over favorite Snowyte.

The victory earned the 2-year-old bay filly by McKinzie an all-fees paid automatic berth in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

 


“I was expecting a good race today. I know people didn’t believe – not in her, in me – because this is the first time I’ve ever won a graded stakes,’’ Abreu said. “You need the quality to win those kinds of races, and I thought I had the horse.”

With odds-on favorite Senza Parole among three late scratches, Scottish Lassie tracked the pace set by Social Fortress, made her bid for the lead near the quarter pole and left the field in the dust.

“It looked like she settled perfect,” winning rider Jose Lezcano added. “The longer she goes, the faster she can go. She finished fantastic today.”

Winning time for the mile was 1:36.73.

Other stakes winners at the Big A

Carson’s Run ($5) beat Deterministic by 1 ¾ lengths in the Jockey Club Invitational (G3) and Senbei ($4) Topped Nothing Better by 1 ¼ lengths in the Belmont Turf Stakes (G3).

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