Stacelita Ready to Roll for Chad Brown

Martin Schwartz’s Stacelita makes her first start for new trainer Chad Brown after running for Jean-Claude Rouget in the United Nations at Monmouth Park. 

“She’s gotten a little bit better each week we’ve had her,” Brown said from Saratoga on Wednesday.  “Her energy level has been great and we are really pleased with the way she has been training.” 

Stacelita worked Monday morning at Saratoga and recorded the same time, 48.23 seconds over the firm Oklahoma turf course, as Desert Sage, a stakes-placed stablemate.  Desert Sage’s work was recorded as a breeze while Stacelita’s was rated as handily; Brown suggested there was no reason to read into the tag. 

“I don’t know why they were different,” Brown said, “they pretty much went the same.” 

Brown will also start Gary and Mary West’s Casino Host in the Grade I Secretariat Stakes after a third-place finish at 20-1 in the Grade II Virginia Derby. 

A son of Dynaformer, Brown agreed that the extra ground and firmer going were attributable to his solid run at Colonial Downs after a dull fifth in the one-mile Hill Prince at Belmont over a yielding course.