Rodeo Creek Racing's Blazing Sevens, winner of the 2022 Champagne Stakes (G1) and runner-up in the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1), returns as a 4-year-old in an $84,000 allowance optional claiming race at Aqueduct Racetrack April 20.
The second-level race at a mile, carded as the seventh race and over the same distance at which he won the Champagne over a sloppy track at Aqueduct a year and a half ago, marks a comeback after a long hiatus after he was third in the July 21 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. The Curlin Stakes followed his narrow defeat in the May 20 Preakness, when he was outgamed by a head by multiple grade 1 winner National Treasure.
Blazing Sevens has been working weekly at Payson Park Training Center in South Florida for trainer Chad Brown this spring. The son of Good Magic is 2-1-3 in eight starts and has earned $911,450. He is favored Saturday at 4-5 odds on the morning line under Manny Franco.
One of his leading adversaries is uncoupled stablemate Artorius, who won the 2022 Curlin Stakes for Brown and owner/breeder Juddmonte Farm. A 5-year-old son of Arrogate, Artorius has since gone 0-for-4. He is also unraced since July 21 at Saratoga, where he ran third in an optional claiming race.
Other contenders include the A. Bianco Holding Limited-owned entry of Power Seeker and Lord Captain, who both come off sharp Aqueduct performances this spring for trainer Linda Rice.
