Looking At Bikinis leads Brown's 3-year-olds into Saratoga
Trainer Chad Brown’s barn was neither represented in Kentucky Derby trail races in 2019 nor any leg of the Triple Crown. But the New York native who has often spoken about his desire to win the Travers Stakes (G1) may have some qualified runners the second half of this season in an open 3-year-old division.
Looking At Bikinis, a son of Lookin At Lucky, shot to the top of that list Thursday in his first start since a debut victory last September. Under jockey Javier Castellano, he nudged past New York-bred stakes winner Not That Brady to win a featured $82,000 allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park.
Brown told the Daily Racing Form's David Grening earlier this week that off last fall’s 5 3/4 first out victory, he was pointing Looking At Bikinis to Keeneland’s Breeders’ Futurity. The colt suffered an injury while working toward the race.
“Hopefully, this is a starting point for a good 3-year-old campaign for him,” the trainer said going into Thursday’s victory, which registered a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
A $240,000 purchase as a 2-year-old, Looking At Bikinis is campaigned in partnership by Long Lake Stable as well as Madaket Stables, Coleman, Thomas and Doheny Racing Stable.
If Brown figures an audition for the Aug. 24 Travers is in order, Saratoga hosts two logical preps, the July 26 Curlin, a $100,000 Stakes, and the July 27 Jim Dandy (G2) worth $600,000. Both 3-year-old races run at 1 1/8 miles.
Another 3-year-old to watch from his barn is Fortin Hill, winner of an off-the-turf allowance race on June 21. Similarly, it came in his second start following a successful debut last fall at Belmont Park. Larry Best’s OXO Equine LLC campaigns the son of Mucho Macho Man, who hammered for $575,000.
Fortin Hill only worked on the dirt heading into his more recent start, ranging up widest to kick clear in a field of three, with Morning Breez 2 1/4 lengths back at the wire.
Brown, who last year trained champion 2-year-old, Kentucky Derby runner-up and Haskell (G1) winner Good Magic, appeared stacked with Triple Crown-eligible colts last fall. Another to look out for upon return is Aurelius Maximus, fourth in the Champagne Stakes (G1) after breaking his maiden second out by 7 3/4 lengths. By the late Pioneerof the Nile, Aurelius Maximus is working consistently at Saratoga.
Brown also nominated to the July 6 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park the 3-year-old Highest Honors, a Will Farish homebred who RNA’d for $750,000 as a yearling. The son of Tapit debuted April 20, finishing second at Keeneland, and returned a winner June 1 at Belmont Park.
As far as sophomore sprinters on the dirt, Brown trains a pair of last out runners in the Woody Stephens (G1) Stakes, Honest Mischief (sixth) and Complexity (11th).