Champagneforashley Stakes

[fkach]

I just noticed they are running the Champagneforashley Stakes on Wednesday at Aqueduct. I don\'t recall this race from prior years.

Is this the first running?

I\'m glad they have a race for him. I think he was an outstanding statebred at a time when there weren\'t very many of them. It would have been interesting to see what kind of horse he could have become if he had more time to develop.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

I remember the horse fkach. That was Unbridled\'s year in the Derby. Champagne went into the Wood undefeated, finished third and never raced again. (Though I can\'t remember the Wood winner. Both Summer Squall and Unbridled came out of the Bluegrass if memory serves.)

This link says Champagne passed away in 2004 and never sired much. If I recall correctly the horse was named after the owners daughter Ashley. Seem to recall Tesher trained and I can remember him commenting that a good 3YO is like fresh strawberries. That was prior to whatever happened to end Champagnes career.

fkach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just noticed they are running the
> Champagneforashley Stakes on Wednesday at
> Aqueduct. I don\'t recall this race from prior
> years.
>
> Is this the first running?
>
> I\'m glad they have a race for him. I think he was
> an outstanding statebred at a time when there
> weren\'t very many of them. It would have been
> interesting to see what kind of horse he could
> have become if he had more time to develop.

[fkach]

I believe Thirty Six Red won the Wood Memorial for Nick Zito on the ship up from Florida. Zito was great with Florida shippers back to NY during the spring in those days.  I recall I made the rail better than the outside that day. ChampagneforAshley was hung 3 or 4 wide both turns and lost by about a length. I thought he was tons the best that day and was disappointed he was also injured in the race. He\'s probably my favorite horse that never really accomplished much because I was so high on him at the time. I thought he had a beautifully smooth stride and was a legitmate top prospect.

[marcus]

... interesting , and the drf is saying weds card incl the champagneforashley stks will be run in it\'s entirety on friday  , it\'s a ticky one to handicap imo  a couple w/ late developing sire profiles if big prices might be worth it . i vaugely remember that wood and also that champagneforashley certainly was a monster . i thought lawyer ron had a helluva stride before he came up w/ the knee   ...

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

I checked and you\'re right Thirty Six Red did win the Wood in 1990. I probably couldn\'t remember because I know I didn\'t cash it. I\'m about sure my hopes were pinned on Champagneforashley that race too, because I did like the horse.

What I liked about Champagneforashley\'s pedigree was the near influence of Shenanigans, who for my money is one of the bluest of all blue hens. Even Laughter, though relatively unaccomplished, foaled Private Terms:

http://www.pedigreequery.com/progeny/shenanigans

fkach Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I believe Thirty Six Red won the Wood Memorial for
> Nick Zito on the ship up from Florida. Zito was
> great with Florida shippers back to NY during the
> spring in those days.  I recall I made the rail
> better than the outside that day.
> ChampagneforAshley was hung 3 or 4 wide both turns
> and lost by about a length. I thought he was tons
> the best that day and was disappointed he was also
> injured in the race. He\'s probably my favorite
> horse that never really accomplished much because
> I was so high on him at the time. I thought he had
> a beautifully smooth stride and was a legitmate
> top prospect.