Kentucky-bred Blazing Sevens closed resolutely down the stretch over a sloppy, sealed main track on Saturday, Oct. 1 to win the $500,000 Champagne S. (G1), a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on Nov. 4 at Keeneland.
Run at one mile, the 151st running of the Champagne brought together a competitive group of juveniles, including race favorite Gulfport. Andiamo a Firenze grabbed the lead after the start and was pressured down the backstretch by Gulfport who raced in second through the early stages. Blazing Sevens broke in after the start and raced well off the inside after the slow beginning. After tucking in along the inside near the half-mile pole, Blazing Sevens swung five-wide in the upper stretch, took command outside the sixteenth marker, and edged clear late to score by a widening 3 ¼ lengths at the finish.
Owned by Rodeo Creek Racing LLC and trained by Chad Brown, Blazing Sevens is a Kentucky-bred son of Good Magic out of the Warrior’s Reward mare Trophy Girl. He was bred in the Bluegrass by Tracy Farmer.
“I was worried,” Chad Brown said. “After the Hopeful, I told the owners I was planning on going to the Breeders’ Futurity [at Keeneland] and I called an audible last week after his work. I felt like he was doing so well and a legit Breeders’ Cup candidate. I was dying to get him around two turns, but I would rather have the five weeks’ rest and not four.”
Blazing Sevens is now a winner in two of three starts and has amassed earnings of $368,750. Blazing Sevens is a $225,000 graduate of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in 2021 where he was consigned by Eaton Sales.