Timberlake rallied from off the pace, engaged pacesetter General Partner on the outside in early stretch, then easily shook off that rival to score a convincing victory in the $500,000 Champagne (G1) for 2-year-olds Saturday at Belmont at the Big A.
Rebounding from a runner-up finish in the Hopeful (G1) Sept. 4 at Saratoga, Timberlake earned his first win at the top level and second overall from four career starts when covering the Champagne's one-turn mile in 1: 35.90 on a sloppy (sealed) track.
Ridden by Florent Geroux for trainer Brad Cox, the Into Mischief colt returned $11.80.
General Partner hung on for second, and Dancing Groom was third. Favorite Fierceness finished seventh in the eight-horse field after he lunged at the start, then was bumped and jostled.
Timberlake relaxed in fifth along the inside in the early running, then was deftly angled to the outside entering the lane. He was ready to roll when Geroux gave the cue and proved best with a sustained rally, scoring by 4 1/4 lengths.
Owned by WinStar Farm and Siena Farm, Timberlake scored a 9 1/4-length win going seven furlongs on July 21 at Ellis Park to break his maiden in his second start. In his subsequent outing and sporting blinkers, the Hopeful, he appeared en route to victory but could not repel 54-1 longshot Nutella Fella, who won by 1 1/2 lengths. The blinkers came off for Saturday's race and the equipment change helped him settle.
The Champagne is a “Win And You're In” qualifying event for the $2-million Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and Timberlake received an automatic, fees-paid berth while stamping himself a horse to watch for the 1 1/16-mile event Nov. 3 at Santa Anita.
The fixture is also a points race for the 2024 Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 4 at Churchill Downs, and Timberlake earned 10 points toward a potential start in the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Timberlake improved his lifetime earnings to $375,600 with the Champagne's $275,000 winner's share of the purse. He was bred in Kentucky by St. Elias Stables. Produced by the Lookin At Lucky mare Pin Up (IRE), he was purchased by Maverick Racing and Siena Farm for $350,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale, where Gainesway consigned him.
Champagne Quotes
Brad Cox, winning trainer of Timberlake (No. 3, $11.80): “He ran good. I was very proud of him. He got a good, clean trip today. Florent [Geroux] did a great job. He got away well. We had a bit of a rough trip in the Hopeful. I thought with a little bit of a cleaner run he maybe would have got to the wire first, but that's the way it goes. I'm very proud of the effort today. It was a huge win.”
On if removing blinkers was to help the horse relax on the stretch out: “Totally. He's a young horse. We used blinkers early on just to keep him focused and we felt like he needed them early. He trained very well leading up to the Hopeful and looking back it would have been great to take them off, but he was also coming off a victory, too. He's a young horse continuing to learn and I think he put it all together today. I want to congratulate WinStar for the opportunity — it's a big win for them as well.”
On garnering a “Win and You're In” and Kentucky Derby points: “You obviously turn your attention to the Breeders' Cup as it comes up first. We'll get him back to Kentucky and see how he comes out of it and let him tell us if we take a march towards Santa Anita. We'll enjoy this victory and go from there.”
Dustin Dugas, assistant to winning trainer Brad Cox of Timberlake (No. 3): “They went pretty quick up front and Florent [Geroux] did a very good job just sitting chilly and it unfolded the way it did. He just broke OK – he wasn't the fastest to get in stride, but he handled it really well. Florent rode a great race and was very patient with him.
“He's excellent [in the barn]. He's really, really cool and trains great. The guys down in Kentucky have always loved him.”
Elliott Walden, CEO of winning co-owner WinStar Farm of Timberlake (No. 3): “We talked about it and thought this was a good spot. The Champagne is a great race, a stallion-making race. We're excited to win it, it's the first time we've ever won it.
“Brad [Cox] did a great job taking the blinkers off. I think that helped settle him a little bit. We saw what happened last time and you learn from each race. He learns from each race and he was just great-minded today. He was very rank last time when he didn't break well and was up behind heels. Brad worked him twice without blinkers and made the decision not to have them today and it all worked out well.
“He's accomplished a lot in a short period of time. I think [two turns] will be good, but we'll see. He's a big strong horse with a beautiful pedigree, a two-turn type pf pedigree.”
Florent Geroux, winning jockey aboard Timberlake (No. 3): “They did [pick the right race]. I thought I was going to California at first, then Keeneland I was named on there and I had to take off my horses to come here but it was just the best spot today with the one-turn mile and a good setup in front of him. I think it set him up perfect for the Breeders' Cup and hopefully the horse comes back healthy and we can move forward. He's not the quickest horse out of the gate, but he always puts himself in a good position. We knew what we had. Last time he was the favorite in the Hopeful and had a little bit of trouble and was very rank. Today, we took the blinkers off and he was way more relaxed and [I'm] hoping he is going to improve again.”
Manny Franco, jockey of runner-up General Partner (No. 4): “He ran great. He did what he knows to do and went to the lead and was second best today and ran a really good race. He's going to keep improving, which I like.”
Trevor McCarthy, jockey of third-place Dancing Groom (No. 2): “We really liked him coming into the race and he had been training really good. He was the only horse that had gone a mile and won at a mile. We knew that the distance would be really good and there were a lot of sprinters today, so we thought there's going to be a pretty hot pace and just break well and get into a good rhythm and let him come home running. He ran an awesome race today, he's still two, he's going to mature over time and there's a bright future for the horse.”
Irad Ortiz, Jr., jockey of seventh-place finisher and beaten favorite Fierceness (No. 6): “He hopped at the start. He moved right when they opened the gate. After that, I just tried to give him a good trip. I sat in the clear from third or fourth trying to bide my time. I made a little run and that was it. After the break, it was hard to catch up.”
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