Brown eyes Travers for Belmont 2018 runner-up Gronkowski
On the morning following Gronkowski's runner-up performance in the 2018 Belmont Stakes, trainer Chad Brown was thinking about what could have been, and what could be ahead, for the colt owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III and named for All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski.
"I'm glad our horse gave him [Rob Gronkowski, who watched the Belmont Stakes in person] a good thrill," said Brown. "[The horse] didn't disappoint anybody. I can only think about what might have happened if the horse had won, for horse racing and for everyone involved. But it's good for racing to have a Triple Crown winner.
"We did our best to upend it, but it just didn't work out. [Justify], my hat's off to him. He ran a large number of races in a short amount of time with no 2-year-old foundation. This horse overcame a lot. He was managed so well by Bob [Baffert] and his staff. He's a remarkable horse to run in all three legs as well as he did."
Gronkowski, who made his North American debut in the Belmont Stakes, broke slowly from the gate and lagged in 10th before commencing a rally to finish 1 ¾ lengths behind Justify.
"I'm very proud of the way the horse ran," said Brown. "He ran an incredible race from where he was to make up that much ground. [Jockey] Jose [Ortiz] effectively saved all the ground and he was coming rapidly up the rail. As he was making a good run of it I was really hoping he would sustain it. I thought he had a chance to go by in the stretch, but it wasn't to be. Just short of the wire he seemed to get a little tired after that big, sustained run."
While Brown hasn't made any immediate plans for Gronkowski, the trainer has August 25, the date of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, circled on his calendar.
"My first thought is that the Travers would be a good race for this horse if he were to break better and get a better pace to run at," said Brown. "It's a race I would love to win, and it looks like it would suit this horse.
"How we get from this race to the Travers, I haven't decided yet. But that's the race I have in my mind. I'll discuss it with the owners."