R.A. Hill Stable, Black Type Thoroughbreds, Rock Ridge Racing, BlackRidge Stables and James F. Brown's Pass the Champagne breezed five furlongs in 1:01.58 on Saturday over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track in preparation for the $500,000 Ogden Phipps (G1) on June 10 at Belmont Park.
Trained by George Weaver, the daughter of Flatter posted her second work since a dominant win in the Grade 2 Ruffian on May 6 over the Elmont oval. Weaver said he was pleased with her latest breeze.
“She's doing very well and worked in a minute and change here at Saratoga,” said Weaver. “She moved well. She's a good work horse and always looks good when she works. I wanted to bring her up here to Saratoga because she trained well here last year and I thought it would be a good option leading up to the race.”
Pass the Champagne's Ruffian victory rewarded Weaver for his patience with the now 5-year-old mare, who endured two lengthy respites in 2021 and 2022. She finished a hard-fought second to subsequent two-time Champion Malathaat in the 2021 Grade 1 Ashland in just her third lifetime outing and second start for Weaver before finishing off-the-board in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks that May. She did not return until last February when taking an optional claiming tilt at Gulfstream Park which was followed by another extended layoff.
This year, Pass the Champagne has finished on-the-board in 3-of-4 starts, including her Ruffian victory and runner-up finishes in the Heavenly Cause at Laurel Park and the Wayward Lass at Tampa Bay Downs. She has earned $315,070 in total purse earnings through a lifetime record of 9-3-4-0.
The post ‘She Moved Well’: Ruffian Winner Pass The Champagne Works At Saratoga For Belmont’s Odgen Phipps appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
