Brown's Contenders Prepare for Breeders' Cup
Trainer Chad Brown continued his Breeders' Cup preparations Sunday morning at Belmont Park working a slew of potential starters pointing towards the two-day World Championships over the inner turf course highlighted by multiple graded stakes winner Stephanie's Kitten,who last out won the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on October 3 at Belmont, and Chilean-bred Dacita, who won the Grade 2 Ballston Spa in her North American debut at Saratoga Race Course on August 29.
Working in company, the pair went four furlongs in 49.05.
Pointing to the BC Juvenile Turf, Grade 3 Pilgrim third-place finisher Ray's the Bar worked in company with BC Juvenile Fillies Turf contender Llanita breezing five furlongs in 1:02.02.
"We had a day good overall," said Brown. "I thought all of our horses breezed perfect. Stephanie's Kitten worked good with Dacita, Llanita and Ray's the Bar worked well, particularly the last quarter was very good, 23 seconds and change."
Other possible entrants Brown may saddle for the BC Juvenile Turf include Last Waltz, a new European arrival to the Brown barn who worked in company with Regardez on the inner turf going four furlongs in 50.20 seconds.
"I thought she [Last Waltz] did really well," Brown said. "She seems like a real class horse. We haven't had her long this was her first breeze for us today, but she took to it like she's been over here."
Lastly, Brown commented on yesterday's impressive performance from Pricedtoperfection breaking her maiden in the second race for owners Klaravich Stables and William Lawerence. A daughter of Temple City, the $230,000 April Ocala Breeders Sale purchase was already high on Brown's list from this summer and may be pointed back to enter in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf as well.
"We've always loved this filly," said Brown. "We thought she was our Miss Grillo horse early on in the summer. Unfortunately, she got a really wide trip in her debut and I was going to run her in the Miss Grillo as a maiden anyway and she missed the race with a foot bruise. Finally, once she got it all together, her foot healed up, and we got a couple of nice breezes under her going into yesterday's maiden and she ran like she always trained this summer. The timing isn't great and there's a chance she wouldn't get in, but she looked good this morning coming out of her race yesterday and I'll talk to the owners tomorrow and see what they want to do but I might pre-enter her in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf."
Multiple graded stakes winner Hard Not to Like breezed over Belmont Park's main track Sunday morning for trainer Christophe Clement as her connections weigh a possible start in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on October 31 at Keeneland. The Ontario-bred daughter of Hard Spun worked an easy five furlongs, earning an official time of 1:02.98 to rank 10th of 11 at the distance.
"She had a nice maintenance work, nothing special," Clement said of the move. "She looked well to me. She seems to have come back in good order."
Back-to-back Grade 1's established Hard Not to Like, owned by Peter Fluor's Speedway Stables, as one of the more formidable players of her division this year. Following her neck victory in the Gamely at Santa Anita in May, she nosed out turf heavyweight Tepin in the Diana on July 25 at Saratoga Race Course. In her most recent start, the gray mare failed to rally in the Grade 1 Rodeo Drive on September 26 at Santa Anita, fading to a disappointing eighth as the post-time favorite.
"The plan is to work her back next week on the turf before I make a final decision, but I will speak with Mr. Fluor and we will decide if we want to pre-enter for the Breeders' Cup on Monday," said Clement.
This year's Breeders' Cup would be the second championship appearance for the now-6-year-old Hard Not to Like, who finished fifth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2011 at Churchill Downs.
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New York's homebred talent will be on full display next weekend as fields forSaturday's Empire Showcase Day are taking shape, anchored by the $300,000 Empire Classic.
Featuring a rematch of the top three finishers in September's Evan B. Shipman at Saratoga, the Empire Classic, at 1 1/8 miles, is led by probable starters Royal Posse, Saratoga Snacks and Empire Dreams. Royal Posse, a $20,000 claiming purchase this spring for the Rudy Rodriguez barn, got a nose ahead of Gary Sciacca's Saratoga Snacks, winner of the Saginaw this summer at Belmont, in the Shipman. Tom Albertrani-trained Empire Dreams, third in the Shipman, won the Commentator this spring before finishing a close second to Saratoga Snacks in the Saginaw. Good Luck Gus, Gridley Here and Sioux are also probable for the Empire Classic.
Probable for the $250,000 Empire Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles will likely feature Hot Stones, winner of the 2014 Grade 3 Bed o' Roses and 9 ¼-length hero of the Saratoga Dew this summer at the Spa, for trainer Bruce Levine. Hot Stones is expected to be joined by Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks runner-upTemper Mint Patty, Classy 'n Smart victor Flipcup, Critical Eye winner Sheriffa,Atlantic's Smile, Carameaway, Jc's Shooting Star, Star Gazing, and Tahoe Tigress. Grade 1 Mother Goose runner-up Wonder Gal is possible for Leah Gyarmati, as is Unbelievable Dream.
The $250,000 Sleepy Hollow for 2-year-olds going one mile is expected to draw Bertram F. Bongard winner Sudden Surprise for Todd Pletcher, as well as runner-up Get Jets, trained by Tony Dutrow. Celtic Chaos, Fish Trappe Road, Inside Straight, Mountain Music Man and No Entiendo are also likely.
Juvenile fillies will take the stage in the $250,000 Maid of the Mist likely featuring Seeking the Ante winner She's All Ready, who finished third in the Grade 1 Frizette in her last out. Joseph A. Gimma victor Melodic, Gregorian Gold, Frosty Margarita, Super Surprise, Surprise Cameo and Trappe Play are also probable.Wild About Harry is possible.
Probable for the $200,000 Mohawk for older horses on the inner turf are grass veterans Lubash for Christophe Clement and recent Ashley T. Cole winnerKharafa. Birchwood Road, Front, Iron Power, Notacatbutallama, Orino andWith Exultation are also likely.
Multiple graded stakes winner Discreet Marq is likely to headline the filly and mare division, in the $200,000 Ticonderoga for Clement. Capriana, Distorted Beauty,Invading Humor, Old Harbor, Selenite and The Tea Cups. Mah Jong Maddnes,Take It Inside and Unbelievable Dream are possible.
New York-bred sprinters will be featured in the $150,000 Hudson and Iroquois for fillies and mares, 3-years-old and up. The Hudson is likely to draw Captain Serious, Crafty Dreamer, Frisky Warrior, John's Island, Loki's Vengeance,Noble Cornerstone, Ostrolenka, Tug of War and Weekend Hideaway. Probable for the Iroquois are Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks winner Hot City Girl, Atlantic's Smile, Isabelle, Miss Da Point, Tricky Zippy, Willet and Women Win.
Source: NYRA Communications