Experience :: Pink Champagne
Pink Champagne
Bubbly and bold: Pink Champagne sparkles in Natalma Stakes
Pink Champagne scored a hard-fought win in her stakes debut, holding off a late rally by Saree (GB) to triumph by a head in the $177,000 Natalma Stakes (Can-G3) on Saturday at Woodbine.The daughter of Awesome Again rated in midpack in the race for two-year-old fillies while Sleek and Powerful pulled the field through a half-mile in :21.73 and :44.22, and Do You Love It took over after six furlongs in 1:09.88. Pink Champagne, under Richard Dos Ramos, and Saree, piloted by Canadian Triple Crown-winning jockey Patrick Husbands, moved together near the top of the stretch but Pink Champagne held on, completing the one-mile contest in 1:36.53 over firm turf.
For Dos Ramos, the victory made up for a day of hard luck, as the jockey lost all three of his regularly scheduled mounts on the card due to scratches. He was filling in for injured jockey Robert Landry on Pink Champagne.
"I’m sorry Rob got hurt, but I was very happy that I could pick up this horse today," Dos Ramos said. "She was looking around a little bit through the lane, and when Patrick [Husbands, aboard Saree] came up to me, she dug back in and fought to the wire. I’ll make it up to Rob later."
This classy daughter of Awesome Again was one of John Kimmel's top selections at the OBS February 2003 sale. This filly caught John Kimmel's eye during the breeze show where she worked effortlessly going an 1/8 of a mile in 103/5 seconds and galloping out very strong. Beauty and grace abound this awesome filly, she is alert and well balanced. She is an awesome filly, with an awesome pedigree for an awesome value and will only improve with time. If you have ever wanted a filly, your wait is over. This exceptional filly will steal your heart away.
America America made a closing bid in the stretch to finish third 2 _ lengths behind Saree.
The Natalma win kept Pink Champagne undefeated in two starts. Trained by John Kimmel, Natalma has earned $132,000 for owner Starview Stable.
Pink Champagne was purchased by Starview Stable for $100,000 from the consignment of Straightaway Farm at the 2003 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co. February sale of two-year-olds in training. She first entered the sales ring in 2002, going for $40,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale to Straightaway Farm from the consignment of Taylor Made Sales Agency.
Bred in Kentucky by FarFellow Farms, Pink Champagne is the only starter out of stakes winner Turkappeal, by Turkoman. Pink Champagne’s second dam, Chief Appeal, is a half sister to Canadian champion Silken Cat.