Champagne Preview: Another ‘Toast’ to Team Zayat?

Already in possession of the early GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorite in the form of last weekend’s jaw-dropping GI FrontRunner S. hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), Zayat Stables will look to add another to the entry box for the big one with “TDN Rising Star” El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) in Saturday’s “Win and You’re In” GI Champagne S. at Belmont Park. 

A bit of a troubled third after a tardy beginning going five furlongs at the Spa Aug. 14, the $250,000 OBSAUG yearling purchase dropped the hammer with an authoritative 10 3/4-length graduation while returning on short notice with first-time Lasix in a seven-furlong heat upstate Aug. 30. 

“We knew he could run, and we knew he had talent,” trainer John Terranova commented. “He ran a tremendous figure [93 Beyer Speed Figure in his maiden win] and it was visually impressive. It was coming back quick, but the first race kind of put him in the right place. He got a great schooling in that race. He’s a high-energy colt, and it focused him and pointed him in the right direction.” 

El Kabeir has been working up a storm since, most recently firing a best-of-32 five-furlong bullet in :59 Sept. 27. 
“He’s had three really nice breezes and done them all the right way–real professional,” Terranova continued. “He’s in a beautiful rhythm down here. We haven’t had a bad day or missed a day with him since he won.” 

Impressive six-furlong debut winners Holy Boss (Street Boss) and Daredevil (More Than Ready) could be any kind. The former was tagged as a “TDN Rising Star” after posting a 10 1/4-length win as the 3-2 chalk at Churchill Sept. 6. Daredevil, meanwhile, opened his account with a 6 1/4-length romp as the even-money choice in the Belmont mud Sept. 13. Trainer Todd Pletcher, a five-time Champagne winner, brought home this prize with fellow maiden winners Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) in 2010 and Havana (Dunkirk) in 2013, respectively. 

“We’ve had success a couple of times running horses out of a maiden race in the Champagne,” Pletcher commented. “It’s always an advantage to maybe have another start or two under your belt when you’re going into these races, but hopefully what he lacks in experience he’ll make up for in talent.” 

New York-bred Upstart (Flatter) tries open company after a pair of impressive wins at the Spa. A powerful debut winner Aug. 15, the Ralph M. Evans colorbearer returned nine days later to reel in a loose-on-the-lead Bustin It (Bustin Stones) in the 6 1/2-furlong Funny Cide S. Aug. 24, good for a field high 95 Beyer. 

After overcoming a well-documented troubled journey in the GII Saratoga Special S. Aug. 10, I Spent It (Super Saver) was forced to press the early pace when a distant second behind sidelined “TDN Rising Star” Competitive Edge (Super Saver) in the GI Hopeful S. last time Sept. 1.