Siena Farm and WinStar Farm’s Kentucky-bred Timberlake registered a decisive 4 ¼-length victory in the $500,000 Champagne S. (G1) on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Belmont at the Big A meet. The Champagne is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, Timberlake provided his connections with a breakout performance in the one-mile Champagne. Timberlake chased the leaders just off the inside into the far turn. He entered the upper stretch six wide and rallied late to take command a furlong out. He edged clear late to score by 4 ¼ lengths over the sloppy (sealed) track. Timberlake was cross-entered in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on the same day.

“We talked about it and thought this was a good spot,” said Elliott Walden, CEO of WinStar Farm. “Brad did a great job taking the blinkers off. I think that helped settle him a little bit. Brad worked him twice without blinkers and made the decision not to have them today and it all worked out well.”

Geroux said of Timberlake, “He’s not the quickest horse out of the gate, but he always puts himself in a good position. We knew what we had. Today, we took the blinkers off, and he was way more relaxed and I’m hoping he is going to improve again.”

Timberlake finished second as the race favorite in the Hopeful S. (G1) at Saratoga in his previous start. He broke his maiden by a dominating 9 ¼ lengths at Ellis Park in July in his second career start. By Into Mischief, Timberlake is out of the Lookin at Lucky mare Pin Up (IRE). He was a $350,000 Keeneland September Sale graduate in 2022 where he was acquired by Maverick Racing and Sienna Farm out of the Gainesway consignment.