Trainer Kenny McPeek has a busy Saturday coming up at Belmont at the Big A led by Universe and Stickupwithoutagun in the Grade 1 $500,000 Champagne, a one-turn mile for juveniles.

The Champagne, slated as Race 7 on the 12-race card, is a “Win and You’re In” qualifying event for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 31 at Del Mar and also offers 10-5-3-2-1 qualifying points to the top-five finishers towards the Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs.

Four G Racing, Gregg Day and Steven Crain’s Universe enters from a debut graduation sprinting seven furlongs on Aug. 30 at Saratoga Race Course. There, the Global Campaign bay hit the gate at the break, and recovered to travel two lengths back in midpack before cruising to a 4 1/2-length score over $1.7 million yearling purchase Dragones.

Universe breezed five furlongs in 1:01.02 on Sept. 27 over the Belmont Park dirt training track in preparation of the Champagne.

“Universe had been training at Saratoga, and I sent him down to Belmont for his work to run this weekend,” McPeek said. “He is a horse that looks the part. I think he was quite a bit overlooked in that first race, but the way he finished up and galloped out was impressive. We’ve had a good start with young horses this year and he’s kind of leading the pack.”

Harold Lerner, AWC Stables and Nehoc Stables’ New York-bred Stickupwithoutagun graduated second out sprinting six furlongs versus fellow state-breds on August 29 at the Spa. The McKinzie bay debuted just two weeks earlier when running a distant sixth going 1 1/16 miles on turf on August 15 there.

“We always knew he was a dirt horse,” McPeek said. “We needed a longer race. When a longer race didn’t go, we went into a dirt sprint, and he showed up pretty sharp that day. I think he really wants a mile.”

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Bred in the Empire State by Sequel Thoroughbreds and Lakland Farm, Stickupwithoutagun has options in the New York-bred stakes program going forward, including the $200,000 Sleepy Hollow on Oct. 25.

“If he fits with open company remains to be seen, if he does, that’s great, but if not, he’ll come back in the Sleepy Hollow,” McPeek said.

The same connections have New York-bred Rina’s Revenge in Saturday’s Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette, a one-turn mile for 2-year-old fillies, in Race 6. The Yaupon dark bay closed from 7th-of-9 to win her six-furlong state-bred debut by 4 3/4 lengths on August 28 at the Spa.

“She was impressive,” McPeek said. “If she handles open company, that is great. I think she will relish the mile. She is definitely going to come from off the pace.”

The Frizette is a part of the Breeders’ Cup “Dirt Dozen” series for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. The nominated winner of the Frizette will receive a credit of $30,000 toward entry fees, with the second and third places receiving credits of $15,000 and $7,500, respectively.

The Frizette also offers qualifying points to the top-five finishers on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale towards the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

McPeek indicated Miss Call will scratch from Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo in favor of other options.

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Oct 2, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.