U.S.S. Valor aims to prove in the Champagne Stakes that his Saratoga tour de force was no fluke

The son of War of Will enters off a 13 1/4-length runaway victory that earned him a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest recorded by any 2-year-old this season. This Saturday, he will square off once again against Gaudreau at Belmont Park, with a guaranteed starting spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) awaiting the winner

ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— U.S.S. Valor needed just two starts to transform a promising early impression into a performance capable of putting the entire division on notice. After rolling to a 13 1/4-length victory at Saratoga and earning the highest Beyer Speed Figure among all 2-year-olds in 2026, he will have the opportunity this Saturday in the Champagne Stakes (G1-1,600 m, $500,000) to prove that his breathtaking display was merely the beginning.

Bred and owned by Team Valor International, the colt will be one of the headline attractions on an exceptional card at Belmont Park, featuring six graded stakes as part of an 11-race program.

For U.S.S. Valor, far more will be on the line than just his first graded victory.

The Champagne Stakes serves as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, guaranteeing the winner a "Win and You're In" berth with fees paid into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), to be held at the end of the month at Keeneland. In addition, the race offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top five finishers on the Road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby (G1).

U.S.S. Valor put on an extraordinary show on September 5 at Saratoga. After battling for the lead through the opening quarter-mile of a seven-furlong maiden special weight, he took command for good and began drawing away from his field with authority, without requiring much urging from Manny Franco. He hit the wire 13 1/4 lengths clear, stopping the clock in 1:22.04.

Yet the detail that generated the most buzz came afterward: he received a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, eight points higher than the season's second-best figure posted by a 2-year-old, the 97 earned by Summer Starlet (City of Light) in the Spinaway Stakes (G1) contested that same afternoon.

Not even trainer Shug McGaughey saw such a dominant performance coming. “I thought he was going to run good, but I didn’t expect him to run like that,” acknowledged the veteran Hall of Famer.

His debut had already dropped hints. On August 8, also at Saratoga, U.S.S. Valor broke from post 1, dropped back to sixth in an eight-horse field, and suffered traffic trouble before closing strongly in the stretch. He finished third, just 3/4 of a length behind Gaudreau (Nyquist), with Coach Pope (Tapit) separating them by a neck for second.

To McGaughey, that initial race experience proved immensely valuable. Since his blowout victory, the son of War of Will has breezed twice over the main track at Belmont, going four furlongs in 48.66 on September 19 and covering the same distance in 49.00 six days later.

“He worked great. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” summarized McGaughey. Franco returns to ride from post 5.

The Rematch with Gaudreau

The Champagne will also feature a intriguing rematch. Gaudreau, trained by Chad Brown, has not raced since his August 8 debut victory in which he bested U.S.S. Valor. The son of Nyquist displayed early speed, pressing fractions of 22.38 and 45.23 before holding off late surges from Coach Pope and the current Champagne favorite, covering the 1,300 meters in 1:16.41.

“It was one of those key maiden races at Saratoga,” explained Brown. “He’s doing very well and this was always the plan.”

Gaudreau, acquired for $220,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky, was named in memory of Johnny Gaudreau, the late NHL star.

Another unbeaten contender is Club Reign, trained by Whit Beckman. The son of Core Beliefs debuted on August 29 at Saratoga with a 6-length victory over 1,200 meters. Among his ownership group is Three Brand Racing, the syndicate featuring Super Bowl champion quarterback Russell Wilson, who attended the track that afternoon alongside his wife, singer Ciara, and their family.

Club Reign was purchased for $475,000 at OBS and will once again have Edgard Zayas in the saddle.

Also entering undefeated is Earth Song, representing Amo Racing USA and trainer Jorge Delgado. The son of Justify debuted on September 7 at Monmouth Park, broke slowly, and then simply ran away from the competition, drawing off to win by 11 1/4 lengths.

His pedigree adds even more intrigue: he is a half-brother to Further Ado (Gun Runner), who recently finished second by a half-length to The Puma (Essential Quality) in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1).

Earth Song, a $250,000 purchase at the OBS March sale, is also cross-entered in Saturday's Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park.

The six-horse field is completed by Raku (Kantharos), coming off a nose defeat in the Sapling Stakes (L) over the Monmouth mile, and Johnny Hockey (Omaha Beach), a recent maiden winner who happens to be another colt named in honor of Johnny Gaudreau.