Vineyard Haven's rivals felt punch drunk in Champagne (Debra Kral/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer Bobby Frankel et al's VINEYARD HAVEN (Lido Palace [Chi]) spurted clear approaching the final turn and was never in danger in posting a sterling score in the $400,000 Champagne S. (G1) at Belmont on Saturday. The gray colt broke well and dueled on the front with longshot A. P. Cardinal (A.P. Indy), and the duo went in splits of :22 3/5 and :45 2/5 for the opening half-mile. Turning for home, Edgar Prado let out his mount for a little more and he responded, quickly opening up and cruising home an authoritative 5 3/4-length winner, reaching the wire in 1:36 for the one-mile test on the fast main oval. The 4-1 second choice paid $10.40, $6.20 and $3.90 while keying the $87 exacta, $286.50 trifecta and $2,478 superfecta (3-10-2-9).

"I had pressure, but he kept pricking his ears and going so easily," Prado said. "When I called on him, he just accelerated. I had to ease up in the last part because he was opening up too much on the group."

Munnings (Speightstown), the 6-1 fourth choice, tracked in third on the outside to the stretch and gamely held off 3-1 favorite Cribnote (Read the Footnotes) for the place by three parts of a lengths, returning $6.60 and $5. Cribnote paid $3.70 and was 1 3/4 lengths clear of Gone Astray (Dixie Union), who rallied from last and capped the super at 15-1. Hello Broadway (Broken Vow) was next and followed by Girolamo (A.P. Indy), Brave Victory (Lion Heart), Break Water Edison (Lemon Drop Kid), A. P. Cardinal and Ventana (Toccet).