Practical Joke, Lady Eli punch Breeders' Cup tickets on Travers Day

With three winners on Saturday's Travers Day card including a pair of stakes races with outstanding performances by multiple graded stakes winners Practical Joke in the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens and Lady Eli in the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa, trainer Chad Brown was appreciative reporting all his runners came back from the races on Saturday in good shape while also looking to map out Breeders' Cup plans for his stakes contingent. 

With Amerman Racing's ThreefiveIndia earning Brown's first trip to the winner's circle on the day, taking an allowance optional claiming race by three lengths, Brown said the runner's performance earned him an opportunity to step up in company next time out.

"ThreefiveIndia ran terrific," said Brown. "He continues to show that he loves Saratoga. He ran really well, he earned himself into next running in a stakes race. I'm not sure when or where, but he'll show up in a stakes somewhere soon."

Improving his record to a perfect 4-for-4 at one-turn distances, Brown was elated with Practical Joke's performance in the Allen Jerkens and said the colt is under consideration towards a year-end start in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. 

"Practical Joke ran outstanding," said Brown. "It was his third race in seven weeks. We've asked him to do a lot of different things and he keeps showing up for us. We have a lot of respect for this horse. Undefeated at one turn, he's definitely found his niche. We'll try to keep him at one turn if we can. Of course, the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is two turns and we're going to have to take a look at it."

Initially under plans to train her way over the summer towards a fall start in the Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl on October 8 at Belmont Park, Brown altered his plans last Wednesday and entered the 5-year-old Divine Park mare into the Ballston Spa. Brown said Lady Eli's victory at Saratoga was extra special on Saturday as she avenged her loss in the race last year by a nose. 

"It was a quite a thrill to be able to run her one more time here," said Brown. "We're relieved we made the right decision to run. She's never let us down. I'm 50-50 right now whether she'll go into the Flower Bowl or train up into the Breeders' Cup, but we'll take her lead and she'll let us know."

Owners Sheep Pond Partners' decision to enter in the Keeneland November breeding stock sale made her 1 ½-length victory on Saturday all the more important to Brown.

"Once I saw her tip out in the stretch coming for home I knew she'd get there," said Brown. "I'm just very appreciative she's been with us her whole career. Me and my staff are always amazed by her accomplishments."

Lastly, Brown reported Cloud Computing came out of his eighth-place finish in the Travers in good order and said he will review his options with the Grade 1 Preakness winner.