CHAMPAGNE
Belmont Park, eighth race. Grade 1. Purse: $400,000. One mile, 2-year-olds. Post: 4:34 p.m.
LOWDOWN: Off a couple of blazing workouts from the gate, Archwarrior was the most highly touted 2-year-old to debut at Saratoga since Bellagio; and after being scratched twice, he delivered the goods first time out, winning from just off the pace by 3 1/4 lengths at 1-5 in a sharp 1:10 for six furlongs. One of three unbeaten Todd Pletcher-trained colts in the Champagne, the $375,000 son of Arch lacks the experience of Hopeful winner Shanghai Bobby, while Micromanage broke his maiden by five lengths going seven furlongs. But Archwarrior, projected to be the next Triple Crown winner, could prove to be the best of them all.
TV: HRTV, TVG, NYRA Channel 71.
BREEDERS’ FUTURITY
Keeneland, eighth race. Grade 1. Purse: $400,000. 1 1/16 miles, Polytrack, 2-year-olds. Post: 4:49 p.m.
LOWDOWN: Tizracer, a stablemate to Archwarrior who cost even more at auction — $450,000 — broke his maiden going a mile at Belmont by 10 ½ lengths under a hand ride. As a son of Tiznow, he figures to appreciate any added distance, and if he takes to the synthetic surface, he should be hard to catch.
TV: TVG, NYRA Channel 71
SHADWELL TURF MILE
Keeneland, ninth race. Grade 1. Purse: $750,000. One mile, turf, 3-year-olds and up. Post: 5:21 p.m.
LOWDOWN: Despite drawing an outside post 11, Dominus could be poised to spring a mild upset against heavy favorite Wise Dan, who is running back sooner than expected after winning the Woodbine Mile. In two starts for Todd Pletcher since coming off a year’s layoff, Dominus dominated both times, including a handy score making his turf debut in the Grade 2 Bernard Baruch. The son of Smart Strike out of the stakes-winning Lord at War mare Cuando is bred for turf top and bottom, he has back class (having won last year’s Dwyer) and appears poised to finish his 4-year-old campaign with a flourish.
TV: TVG, NYRA Channel 71.
LAST WEEK: At Belmont Park, Dream Peace (2-1) was third in the Flower Bowl paying $2.80 to show; Point of Entry won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic paying $3.50, $2.50, $2.10; Hymn Book (5-1) was eighth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.