Champagne Stakes Odds, Betting Preview, Insights & Belmont Park Picks (Oct 3)

• When: Saturday, October 3, 2026 @ 3:53 PM ET
• Where: Belmont Park, New York, USA
• How to Watch: FanDuel TV

Potential clues ahead of Future Stars Friday at the 2026 Breeders’ Cup will be on offer at Belmont Park on October 3, as the G1 Champagne Stakes sees a number of leading Juvenile contenders in action. Find the latest odds at the best horse racing betting sites and our Champagne Stakes picks here.       

Champagne Stakes Odds

Horse (Draw)	Odds
Johnny Hockey (1)	+5000
Raku (2)	+2000
Gaudreau (3)	+200
Club Reign (4)	+900
U.S.S. Valor (5)	-138
Earth Song (6)	+1600

Latest odds taken from an Offshore Sportsbook. BetOnline markets open on the day of the race.

Race Information & Records

Stat	Information
Race Distance	1 Mile
Purse	$500,000
Most Successful Trainer	Todd Pletcher (6)
Most Successful Jockey	Braulio Baeza (5)

ALSO SEE: Breeders’ Cup Classic Picks, Odds, Leading Contenders, Betting Insights & Analysis

Champagne Stakes: Recent Winners

• 2025– Napoleon Solo (Joel Rosario/Chad Summers)
• 2024– Chancer McPatrick (Flavien Prat/Chad Brown)
• 2023– Timberlake (Florent Geroux/Brad Cox)
• 2022– Blazing Sevens (Flavien Prat/Chad Brown)
• 2021– Jack Christopher (Jose Ortiz/Chad Brown)

Champagne Stakes: Betting Preview

The premier race on the New York schedule for two-year-old colts is set for Belmont Park this weekend, as a high-quality group of six contest the 2026 Champagne. The recent history of this race shows its quality, with Napoleon Solo winning this race before landing the G1 Preakness as a three-year-old. Other notable victors include Jackie’s Warrior, Tiz The Law, and Union Rags.

U.S.S. Valor currently heads the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile betting, and will be expected to enhance his dominance in the division this Saturday. The Claude McGaughey-trained runner was a stunning 13-length winner at Saratoga at the start of last month, with Tap Our Way finishing second. Remains to be seen how strong that form really is, but was visually impressive and a mighty speed figure of 104 shows that he is the one to beat.

However, Gaudreau could be a fascinating alternative for trainer Chad Brown this Saturday. The two-year-old by Nyquist beat U.S.S. Valor on his only start under rules, and based on pedigree he should be better suited to this weekend’s distance, as he was over an extended six furlongs. Brown typically sends one of his better Juveniles to this race, and he has won three of the last five editions.

Club Reign also brings an unbeaten record into the Champagne this weekend, having won on his only start under rules for trainer D. Whitworth Beckman. Was stylish on that day at Saratoga last month, recording a 77 speed figure.

Raku is easy to overlook after looking unsuited by the mile in the Sapling Stakes when beaten by Sea Devil. Justify colt Earth Song could be of interest after making a winning debut at Monmouth, scoring a speed figure of 78.

Champagne Stakes Picks

The top two in the betting look very hard to oppose this weekend, but based on the prices, the preference is for Chad Brown-trained Gaudreau to confirm the form with U.S.S. Valor. Connections typically send one of their better juveniles to this race, and they have been incredibly patient. As a safer play, the Gaudreau/U.S.S. Valor Exacta Box looks pretty reliable.

Free Pick:

• Gaudreau

Belmont Park Picks for October 3, 2026

Race	Pick
R1 – Maiden Special Weight	Election Hero
R2 – Maiden Optional Claiming	Sky Luna
R3 – Maiden Special Weight	Forecheck
R4 – Maiden Special Weight	Nr Webster
R5 – Maiden Special Weight	Harlow Drive
R6 – G3 Matron Stakes	Harper’s Corner
R7 – G2 Miss Grillo Stakes	Bounce Back
R8 – G1 Champagne Stakes	SEE ABOVE
R9 – G1 Frizette Stakes	Velora
R10 – G3 Futurity Stakes	Just Joe
R11 – G2 Pilgrim Stakes	Dover Street