Rosario is ill; Chad talks about jockey change in Alabama

Two days after getting out of jail on an assault charge, trainer Chad Brown was dealing with more routine challenges Saturday, like having to find a new rider for his filly Gerrymander in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes.

Jockey Joel Rosario, who was originally named to ride Gerrymander, feels ill and will not ride Saturday. In light of that news, Brown stated Saturday morning that Flavien Prat would ride Gerrymander instead. This would be Prat's first time riding the filly.

Gerrymander, a $375,000 daughter of Into Mischief owned by Seth Klarman, is coming off a nearly two-month break since she won the Mother Goose (G2) at Belmont Park. She was given odds of 7-2 on the morning line, the second choice behind 1-2 favorite Nest.

Rosario had been named on eight horses Saturday at Saratoga. David Grening of the Daily Racing Form first reported that Rosario will be off of his mounts Saturday for the second day in a row. Agent Ron Anderson told Horse Racing Nation Saturday morning that although Rosario tested negative for COVID, he was not feeling strong enough to ride.

Brown, who spoke on the condition that he would not be asked about his arrest, was realistic yet positive about Gerrymander's chances in the Alabama.  "She's going to have to run the best race she's ever run her life today," he said. "She's certainly training like she will. Whether that's going to be good enough or not, we'll have to see when the race is run. She couldn't be doing any better, so we're going to take our shot."

Brown was released on $2,500 cash bail Thursday after he pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of breathing, according to police in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and the district attorney in Saratoga County.  According to charges read during his arraignment in City Court on Thursday, Brown was accused of pushing a woman down a staircase at his house in Saratoga Springs, pinning her to the floor and trying to choke her before throwing her out.

Friday morning Brown returned to the Saratoga backside for morning training for the first time since his arrest. He was also present for Friday afternoon races starting with his entrants in the fourth race. He trained the top two finishers of that juvenile maiden special weight, Transactional and Indemnify. Brown also won Friday's Skidmore Stakes with Oxymore.

Andrew Capone of Horse Racing Nation reported from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., for this story.