Offspring of first-crop sire McKinzie secured a Grade 1 double in New York’s most prestigious two-year-old stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. Chancer McPatrick earned his second top-level win of the season in the $500,000 Champagne (G1), while Scottish Lassie romped home in the $400,000 Frizette (G1) for fillies.
Chancer McPatrick’s victory in the one-mile Champagne looked a lot like his first two at Saratoga, as he rallied from a trailing position. Unhurried while racing wide down the backside, Chancer McPatrick made a bold move circling the field on the turn, sustained that momentum in the stretch to take aim at second choice Tip Top Thomas, and forged ahead of that rival inside the final sixteenth.
“He runs his races like he’s a year older than he is,” said Chad Brown, who trains Chancer McPatrick for Flanagan Racing. “He runs like an experienced, fit three-year-old. He’s got a long, strong run. He showed it in all three of his starts. The way he finished up and the way he relaxes, I don’t see going two turns as a problem.”
Flavien Prat was aboard the odds-on choice, who finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead in a time of 1:36.51 over a fast track. He returned $3.10.
Tip Top Thomas was a clear second by 4 3/4 lengths over Mo Plex, who had eight lengths on Smoken Wicked. The order of finish was rounded out by Vekoma Rides, J J Zo Zo, Executive Order, Colonel Bob, and Lethal Speed.
Chancer McPatrick earned an automatic bid to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar next month, as well as 10 qualifying points toward the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1). Also earning Derby points were Tip Top Thomas (five), Mo Plex (three), Smoken Wicked (two), and Vekoma Rides (one).
Chancer McPatrick captured his debut by a length going 6 1/2 furlongs on July 27 and followed up with a half-length score in the seven-furlong Hopeful (G1) on Labor Day.
Bred in Kentucky by Rigney Racing and most recently sold for $725,000 as an OBS April juvenile, Chance McPatrick is out of Bernadreamy, a daughter of Bernardini and Alcibiades (G1) winner Dream Empress.
Second-time starter Scottish Lassie was an emphatic winner of the Frizette, winning by nine lengths over 13-10 favorite Snowyte. This result reversed the form of a Sept. 1 maiden at Saratoga in which both fillies were making their respective debuts. Snowyte finished second that day, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of Scottish Lassie.
Ridden by Jose Lezcano, Scottish Lassie rated in third down the backside, improved position on the turn, and then reeled in pacesetter Social Fortress in upper stretch. She crossed the finish well clear, stopping the timer in 1:36.73 for one mile.
Snowyte herself was clear of the rest of the field, 6 1/2 lengths ahead of Social Fortress. Another Cleeshay, Icona Mama, Whatintheliteral, and Pondering completed the order of finish.
Owned in partnership by Sportsmen Stable, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Photos Finish, Corms Racing Stable and trainer Jorge Abreu, Scottish Lassie paid $15.
“I had really high expectations of this filly since day one,” Abreu said. “I expected her to run a good race today because Jose was breezing her and she was breezing very good all along. But I didn’t know she was going to win by this margin.”
Scottish Lassie earned an automatic bid toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar next month. She also secured 10 qualifying points toward next year’s Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Also earning Oaks points were Snowyte (five), Social Fortress (three), Another Cleeshay (two), and Icona Mama (one).
Bred in Kentucky by Winchester Farm, Scottish Lassie most recently sold for $85,000 at OBS in March. She was reared by Bodebabe, a daughter of Bodemeister.
Trainer Christophe Clement swept the two graded turf stakes earlier in the card, beginning with a one-two finish by the stable’s Carson’s Run and Deterministic in the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby (G3).
The trailer for much of the 1 3/8-mile journey under Dylan Davis, Carson’s Run delivered a strong kick in upper stretch to win going away by three parts of a length. Deterministic got the place by a head over El Rezeen.
Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Steve Bouchey, Carson’s Run paid $5 as the 3-2 favorite, covering the firm-course test in 2:14.22.
This was the fourth stakes win for Carson’s Run, who captured the Summer (G1) last season, the Tale of the Cat S. at Monmouth Park in June, and the Saratoga Derby (G1) in August. His stakes placings include seconds in the With Anticipation (G3) and Nashville Derby (G3).
Carson’s Run and/or Virginia Derby (G3) winner Deterministic might make one more start this year, Clement said.
“There’s only one race on paper, which is the Hollywood Derby (G1),” said Clement of the Nov. 30 feature at Del Mar. “Let’s see what happens the next few weeks and then we will give them a break and have a nice four-year-old campaign.”
Bred in Kentucky by Frankfort Park Farm and most recently sold for $170,000 as an OBS juvenile, Carson’s Run is by Cupid and out of Hot N Hectic, a Henny Hughes half-sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Rated R Superstar.
Senbei also made a late rally to give Clement a record fourth win in the $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint (G3). Ridden by Manny Franco, Senbei won by 1 1/4 lengths over 2-1 favorite Nothing Better, with Alogon a half-length behind in third.
Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Darlene Bilinski, Senbei covered six furlongs in 1:07.74 and returned $10.
A five-year-old gelded son of Candy Ride, Senbei was earning his first stakes win since the Gold Fever S. at Belmont Park in May 2022. He also captured three New York-bred restricted stakes as a two-year-old.
“As a young horse, he was very good on dirt. He lost his form a bit on dirt, and the grass brought him back,” said Clement, who previously trained the Belmont Turf Sprint standouts Pure Sensation (2016) and Disco Partner (2017-18). “He’s been running very well on grass, maybe more on firmer turf than softer turf.”
