 |
16.1hh Bay Mare Priceless Forever - Rain Dancer, by Storm Cat Click here for SIM site Formerly owned by Ara Davies |
Champagne, herself, debuted in a five furlong maiden sprint at Futurity Park, demolishing the field by 4 1/2 lengths. She was a close third in the Debutante Stakes (G2) next out before winning the Mirror and Sim Goddess Stakes in quick succession. A solid third place finish in the Stewards Cup closed out her two-year-old career.
At three, Champagne knocked heads with the best of her generation over and over again. She won the Davona Dale Stakes (G2) by 2 1/2 lengths over Once in a Lifetime to begin her sophomore campaign. Stretching out in the 1 1/4 mile Mother Goose Stakes (G1), she forced the pace while two wide and fell victim to two very good closers in Farewell Legacy and Rowdy With A Halo. She came back two weeks later on the turf in the Oceanside Stakes (G2) and handily defeated a very nice field. Another two weeks saw her winning the California Cup Matron (G2) in her first start against older fillies and mares. Champagne was unfortunate enough to run into one exceedingly loaded field in the Stewards Cup Distaff (G1) at the end of the year, finishing fifth behind Loki Paradise, Crown, Prevail, and Sahara Dream, beaten only 2 1/2 lengths. Behind her was the talented Yellow Roses.
Champagne did not return at her best at four, though her performances were nowhere near what one could call poor. She finished second to Pasquale in the Santa Maria Handicap (G2), second to Heartstopper in the Shuvee Handicap (G3) and third behind Sahara Dream and Desu Senshi in the Chula Vista Handicap (G2) before she retired.
In the breeding shed, Champagne got off to a very good start right away. Her first foal was the chestnut Sports Jersey daughter Cairo, who won the year 17 Vanity Handicap (G1) over Farewellinthedark and placed second in the Coronation Stakes (G1) on turf and third in the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1), and Kentucky Cup Distaff (G2).
Cairo herself has one major claim to fame, and his name is Caldron. The gray son of Giacomo was a powerhouse on the track, winning the Two Year Old Marathon (G2) and Kentucky Futurity (G3) at two before becoming a top notch older horse. At four, he tallied victories in the Elusive Pegasus Handicap (G1) and Summer Bird Stakes (G2), finished a close second in Bragging Rightss Metropolitan Handicap (G2) and chalked up very good third place finishes in the Dubai World Cup (G1) and Stewards Cup Classic (G1). At five, a case could easily be made that Caldron should have been the North American Champion Older Horse, taking a win in the Arcadia Million (G1) before coming back in Dubai in just two weeks to win the Desert World Cup (G1). He was second in the Metropolitan Handicap again before winning the Summer Bird for the second year in a row. Caldrons career ended with a close second place finish to the mild upset Classic winner Lofty Goals. He retired with eight wins in 20 starts, four seconds and four thirds and $5,604,300 in earnings.
As a sire, Caldron has produced 66 winners of 143 races, including Dubai World Cup winner Open at the Close and this years Louisville Oaks winner Nagini.
Champagnes second foal was a horse the likes of which weve never seen before and likely wont ever see again. The little gray son of Jet Ski was named Colorado, and he was a star running on dirt, turf, synthetic, and over hurdles at just about any distance.
Colorado broke his maiden late in his two-year-old year in his third start, and then won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in his first out at three. He had a little trouble in the Sunshine Park Derby (G1) where he finished third, then was second in the St. Louis Derby (G3). Colorado exploded into the limelight with a gutsy win in the Long Island Classic (G1) over Notorious, and then tried turf for the first time in the Canadian Breeders Stakes (G1), which he won by 1 1/2 lengths. He faced older horses for the first time in the Japan Cup (G1) at the end of the year and was third behind a monstrous performance by Coup Detat.
At four, Colorado ran almost solely on turf, his only dirt start coming in the Arcadia Handicap (G1) where he finished third. He won the Flamingo Turf Cup (G2) and Chief Bearhart Stakes (G2) and was second to End of the Line in the Chicago Million (G1) before losing narrowly to Caesar Augustus in the Stewards Cup Turf (G1). A strange campaign at five found Colorado second in the two-mile Magic Carpet Stakes on turf before being off the board in the Desert World Cup (G1), then winning the King George Stakes (G1). He was second in the Arc de Triomphe (G1) before coming to the states and competing in the Stewards Cup Marathon (G1).
Longevity was certainly one of Colorados strengths, as he came back at six to win three straight on the all weather: the Lil Sis, Let it Rain, and Sunshower Stakes (all G3). He closed out his career over hurdles, winning a maiden race and a sponsored stakes at the end of the year with a speed figure of 100. All in all, Colorado won 12 of 25 starts (three on dirt, four on turf, three on all weather, and two over hurdles) and $2,851,300. He has been a force in the breeding shed, siring 309 winners of 804 races. He has 27 winners on dirt, 105 on turf, 150 on synthetic, and 77 over hurdles. They include multiple grade one winner Bold, exciting new sire and millionaire racehorse Mammoth, top steeplechase and all weather stallion Scientist, and South African champion Diffraction.
It was several years before Champagne produced another exceptional racehorse. A little dark bay colt by End of the Line, he went by the name Commendation. Commendation was another tri-surface star. At two, he broke his maiden in an all weather sprint, won an allowance at a flat mile on the dirt, and then took the one mile Tilt a Whirl Stakes (G3) on the turf. During his career, Commendation won the Oceanside Derby (G1), Everest Stakes (G1), Inglewood Derby (G2), Japanese Grand Prix (G2), Fraternity Cup (G2), Baton Rouge Stakes (G3), Patriarch Stakes (G3), Matsumoto Stakes (G3), and Chile Palace Stakes (G3). He was a graded stakes winner on dirt and turf and from one to two miles.
Other representatives of Champagnes female family are also continuing her tradition of excellence and founding branches that are just beginning to show their class. They include graded stakes winner Catskill (Tot Ziens), three-year-old multiple stakes winner Highly Favored (Highly Regarded), stakes winner As I Am Now (Awake As I Am), and fast yearling Caucus Circus (Sun Raider).
Next part of "The Rain Dancer Dynasty" - Coast & Calais >>>