Two Horses Named Johnny Hockey and Gaudreau Run in Same Race at Belmont Park Two colts named in memory of late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, Johnny Hockey and Gaudreau, will race against each other in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park on Saturday, with the winner earning a spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Two colts named in memory of the late NHL star Johnny Gaudreau will run in the same race on Saturday at Belmont Park. The horses, Johnny Hockey and Gaudreau, are entered in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes. Johnny Hockey and Gaudreau OriginsVincent Conanan grew up playing hockey with and against Gaudreau in their teenage years. He talks about the late NHL star plenty and gets chills when old text messages from Gaudreau show up when he is searching his phone. Conanan buys thoroughbred yearlings annually for his Next Level Stables. After his young son kept asking about the player known as Johnny Hockey, he pledged to name a racehorse after Gaudreau.Devon Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds had the same idea. Bradley went to school in the Columbus, Ohio, area where Gaudreau played his final two seasons with the Blue Jackets. Is that not bananas? Bradley said.The winner out of the field of six in the Grade 1 Champagne qualifies for the Breeders Cup Juvenile for 2-year-olds. That championship race sometimes provides a sneak peek at the Kentucky Derby contenders the following spring. Hopefully we can run 1-2 this weekend, either way, Conanan said. I know Johnny is looking down and he sees it.Gaudreau's Lasting Sporting LegacyThese two colts were born roughly a month apart in the winter of 2024. Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, died the night of Aug. 29, 2024, when they were struck riding their bicycles near their hometown in New Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding in a tragedy that transcended sports. Bradley was struck by all the great things that people said about Johnny and registered the names Johnny Hockey and Gaudreau with the Jockey Club.Seeing Team USA bring Gaudreau's children on to the ice and skate around with his No. 13 jersey after winning gold in Milan was even more inspiration to use one of them. When she forgot to pay to re-up after a year and went to name the son of Nyquist, also a hockey connection, she went with Gaudreau for the strapping horse.Bradley Thoroughbreds owns the horse along with Tanglewood Thoroughbreds, Thirty Year Racing, Rodeo Creek Racing, Laura Leigh Stable and Swift Thoroughbreds. We needed a strong name: We needed a name that has some meaning, something to kind of give your horse just an extra oomph, Bradley said. We just felt like it fit, and I guess the rest is history. Conanan asked the trainer at his farm in Ocala, Florida, which horse he liked best.The answer made it an easy call. He goes, Vin, this horse always tries hard and has a big heart, Conanan recalled. I was like, You know what, I will name this one after Johnny. Because Johnny as a kid, he was not the biggest player, but he had the biggest heart.Early Form Points to PromiseSo, I was, like, This horse, I think he is going to be the one. Gaudreau won his debut Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course. The very next day at Monmouth Park on the Jersey shore, Johnny Hockey picked up his first victory in his fifth try. My hopes are very high on the horse, Conanan said.Trainer Antonio Arriaga tells me, he goes: The horse trains unbelievable. He just wants to keep going. He does not stop. He wants to keep going around the track.Gaudreau has Chad Brown, a five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer, overseeing his career, with acclaimed jockey Flavien Prat riding. Based on pedigree and performance, the expectations are lofty after just one race. I am thankful that this horse looks like he is the real deal, Bradley said. Hopefully, it will bring light to, and kind of continue on, Johnny Gaudreau's and Matthew Gaudreau's legacies.Champagne Stakes Odds and HopesGaudreau opened as the second choice on the morning line for the Champagne at odds of 8-5, behind 3-5 favorite U.S.S. Valor. Johnny Hockey is a 30-1 long shot. Conanan wants to invite Johnny and Matthew's parents, Guy and Jane Gaudreau, to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, later this fall if his horse pulls off the upset.This horse is something special, Conanan said. I know he will go out there and do his best, the same way Johnny would.