Brown aims for Canadian International with Wake Forest

Trainer Chad Brown has come close with his two shots at the Pattison Canadian International, sending out Hyper (2013) and Big Blue Kitten (2014) to runner-up finishes with each beaten just three-quarters of a length.

On Sunday, Brown will be looking to hit the bull’s-eye when Wake Forest ships north for the Grade 1, $1 million showpiece for 3-year-olds and upward at 1 ½ miles on the turf course.

Wake Forest, a 6-year-old horse who began his career in Germany, made his  first four starts for Brown at four different tracks south of the border and became a Grade 1 winner in the 1 ½ mile Man O’War at Belmont.

Most recently, Wake Forest journeyed to Woodbine for the Grade 1 Northern Dancer, also a 1 ½ mile turf race, and was beaten just a neck as the runner-up to fellow Canadian International probable The Pizza Man on Sept. 17.

“I thought he got a great trip. He ran very well, just came up short,” said Brown, who conditions Wake Forest for Michael Dubb, Sheep Pond Partners and Bethlehem Stables.

Wake Forest shipped back to his Saratoga base following the Northern Dancer and has been kept on his toes with a pair of turf breezes there, the latest a five-furlong move in 1:01.20 on Friday.

“Just maintenance works; he’s done well,” said Brown.

And while Wake Forest will have his third consecutive rider change here Sunday, with Javier Castellano getting the call, Brown is not concerned.

“He’s pretty straightforward,” said the trainer.

Brown also was represented by Rainha da Bateria and Dacita for the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on the Sept. 17 Ricoh Woodbine Mile program and the pair ran 1-2 in the 1 1/8 mile turf race for fillies and mares.

While Dacita is headed for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf her stablemate Rainha de Bateria, who earned a fees-paid berth there with her Canadian victory, is opting for Woodbine and Sunday’s E.P. Taylor Stakes.

The E.P. Taylor, a 1 ¼ mile turf race for fillies and mares, offers Grade 1 status and a purse of $500,000.

“She obviously ran very well over Woodbine’s course as well,” said Brown. “It just seems logical to go back in here; this race looks like it will be a slightly easier Grade 1 than the Filly and Mare Turf, and she’s yet  to win a Grade 1, so that’s the reason for the decision to run here.”

STRUT THE COURSE AND STACKED DECK FEATURE ON INTERNATIONAL UNDERCARD: Strut the Course, who finished fourth in the Canadian, breezed five furlongs in :59 on the main track here Saturday and will be looking to improve on last year’s fourth-place finish in the E.P. Taylor for trainer Barbara Minshall.

Exercise rider Addy Amaral was aboard Strut the Course, who worked in company with stablemate Stacked Deck, a contender for Sunday’s Nearctic Stakes who was clocked in :58.60 under jockey Rafael Hernandez.

The Nearctic, a six-furlong turf race, is a Grade 2 worth $300,000.

“They worked awesome; both of them,” said Minshall. “They galloped out strong; they’re both in really good shape.

 “’Deck’ needs a good horse to work with. He’s just that kind of horse; he’s just so fast If he doesn’t have a really good horse to work with, it’s not really company anyways.”