Pats for Pass the Champagne after her dominant win in the G2 Ruffian (Susie Raisher)
Today’s Flavor Under Consideration for Another Graded Try
NYRA Press Office
ELMONT, N.Y.— R. A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rock Ridge Racing, BlackRidge Stables and James F. Brown’s Pass the Champagne provided her connections with a gratifying victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian, a one-turn mile for older fillies and mares, at Belmont Park.
Pass the Champagne was an emphatic 5 1/2-length winner after tracking the pace set by Gerrymander and pouncing to the lead at the stretch call. She drew away strongly down the lane under Feargal Lynch to complete the course in 1:36.13.
“She looks real good and we’re just delighted with her,” said trainer George Weaver. “She’s a filly in the mornings that has said to us that she’s a really good racemare, and it’s been a long road for her.”
Weaver was rewarded for his patience with the 5-year-old daughter of Flatter, who has had two lengthy layoffs since making her first start in January 2021 at Gulfstream Park with trainer Rusty Arnold. She won at second asking that February in her first start for Weaver before running a close second to subsequent two-time Champion Malathaat in the Grade 1 Ashland and finishing off-the-board in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks. She did not return until last February at Gulfstream when she won an optional claiming event, and was on the bench again for almost a year before finishing second in the Wayward Lass this January at Tampa Bay Downs.
“She ran a great second in the Ashland and then nothing went right in the Oaks where she got squeezed at the start and pinched back,” said Weaver. “She came up with an issue that needed time off. We got her back and she won early in her 4-year-old year and we had to stop on her again. It’s been a long road for her and as often is the case in this game, you just have to be patient. She always told us she was worth waiting on. We could have retired her, but we felt like she had some unfinished business on the racetrack.”
Pass the Champagne entered the Ruffian off a game second-place finish in the Heavenly Cause at Laurel Park. She has banked $315,070 in total earnings from a consistent record of 9-3-4-0. Weaver said he is proud to see the mare add a graded win to her resume.
“It’s real gratifying seeing her put in that kind of performance yesterday,” said Weaver. “She deserves it and she’s that good of a filly. Heck, I’m a little ashamed I haven’t been able to show that until now, but better late than never.”
Weaver said it is likely Pass the Champagne will now target a return to top-level competition in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps going 1 1/16 miles over Big Sandy on June 10. The Ogden Phipps is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Santa Anita Park.
“We’ll definitely nominate there and I do think – and always did think – that she’s a filly that appreciates the big, wide turns at Belmont,” said Weaver. “She ran big yesterday in her only start at Belmont, and I don’t think we have a choice but to give her a chance to be a Grade 1 winner.”
Weaver also enjoyed stakes success on April 30, Closing Day of the Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet, when the New York-bred Today’s Flavor took the six-furlong Affirmed Success against fellow state-breds. The son of Laoban, owned by Reddam Racing, bounced back well from a pacesetting fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets on April 8 in his lone graded stakes start.
The bay gelding has won 5-of-6 starts since being transferred to Weaver’s care late last year. He began his career in California with conditioner Doug O’Neill and ran second in his first three starts, two of which were won by subsequent graded stakes-winners Laurel River and Essential Wager.
“He’s great,” said Weaver. “He has just turned out to be a real nice horse for us. He was kind of stuck as a maiden out in California catching one tough maiden after another. We’re just happy to have the horse in our barn. He’s very talented and he’s been a lot of fun.”
Weaver said it is unlikely Today’s Flavor will wheel back quickly for the Grade 3, $175,000 Runhappy on May 13, but will consider giving him another try in graded company soon.
“He ran hard the other day and there’s plenty of spots for him, so there’s no reason to rush him back,” said Weaver. “I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, like if something falls apart we might take a look at it, but the plan isn’t to run him back so quick. If we do decide to run him, it would be an entry-day decision based on us thinking he’s doing so well and that we can’t leave him in the barn.”
Bred by Joseph Calvo, Today’s Flavor is out of the winning Speightstown mare Evangelical and was purchased for $80,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-Bred Yearling Sale. He has banked $284,830 through a record of 10-5-3-0.
