Complexity takes Champagne in style but Brown uncertain about Juvenile trip

Belmont: Champagne Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m | 2yo | dirt

The undefeated Complexity rolled to an easy, front-running, three-length victory in the $500,000 Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont on Saturday.

Chad Brown's colt also secured an all-expenses-paid spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, a race Brown won last year with Champagne runner-up and eventual two-year-old champion Good Magic.

However, Brown is not as sure as he was a year ago that he has a bona fide two-turn runner for the 1m½f Breeders' Cup Juvenile on November 2 at Churchill Downs.

"With Good Magic's pedigree and style, we were really looking forward to getting him around two turns," he said. "With this horse, we are not sure if he can handle two turns, so it's a different situation this year."

Distance limitations aside, Brown is quite confident that in Complexity he has a horse with a special talent.

"I'm really proud of this horse," he said. "For a horse that has his speed, to carry it is impressive. He was bred for speed, but he's so strong and an outstanding talent, so his pedigree might not limit him. He's a rare horse, an exceptional horse."

Jockey Jose Ortiz believes Complexity should be able to handle the trip on the first Friday in November, although the first Saturday in May might be a different story. "I think he can go a mile and a sixteenth, but that's probably as far as he wants to go," Ortiz said.

Also on Saturday

Belmont: Beldame Stakes (Grade 1) | 1m1f | 3yo+ f&m | dirt

Unbeaten in her native Chile, Wow Cat recorded her first win in the US on her third attempt for trainer Chad Brown, who is now eyeing the Breeders' Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on November 3 for the four-year-old filly.

Santa Anita: Santa Anita Sprint Championship (Grade 1) | 6f | 3yo+ | dirt

Roy H won the race for a second successive year under a confident ride from Paco Lopez. The six-year-old followed up his victory in the race 12 months ago by winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint, and will once again take on Vosburgh winner Imperial Hint at Churchill Downs on November 3.

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