When trainer Chad Brown left the Belmont Stakes with a pair of Grade 1 wins, there was also a classic case of disappointment.
One week after the 156th Belmont Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race CourseBrown said beat the 8-5 favorite Sierra Leone ran well after finishing third on a surface that did not suit his late kick.
“He didn’t run much until the quarterfinals and that made it difficult for the way the track went,” Brown said June 15. maybe and I just hope that when the summer meet starts (at Saratoga), they’ll even out the track so it doesn’t go as fast and it’ll be fair to everyone to have to get closer at the Belmont and keep an eye on the pace inside throughout the weekend. “
Sierra Leone was 10th after a mile in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont, then rallied four wide at the turn and eight or nine wide in the upper reaches before finishing to take third, 1 behind the winner. 1/2 length Dornoch .
Sierra Leone trains for the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Despite being equipped with a new device to control his drifting habits—which played a key role in his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1)—Sierra Leone moved in during the run Belmont’s stretch, but Brown did not consider it a major factor in the loss.
“He leaned forward but I didn’t think it was that bad,” Brown said. “I think it’s been exaggerated by Mind frame (runner-up) was eliminated in the race.”
Brown said he was considering running his son Gun Runner in the July 27 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Spa in preparation for the August 24 Travers Stakes (G1), which promises to be a major summer fixture for the 3-year-old men’s division.
Bred by Debby Oxley and purchased for $2.3 million at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton’s New York Sale of Preferred Yearlings, Sierra Leone is owned by Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrik Smith , Westerberg and Rocket Ship Racing.
Before the June 8 Belmont, Brown had a pair of Grade 1 wins from Random And Chili flag during the four-day Festival.
Random revenge for runner-up position Idioms in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) when she held off a late bid by the champion mare and won by a straight length over the Eclipse Award winner in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) on the 8th. June is for older mares and mares.
Randomized held off Idiomatic to win the Ogden Phipps Stakes at Sartoga Race Course
“It was a great effort,” Brown said of Klaravich Stables’ 4-year-old daughter. Nyquistist . “She likes Saratoga and I’ll keep her there and point to the Individual Pennant (G1 Aug. 23 at Saratoga).”
Randomized has been dominant in three stakes at Spa, including last year’s Alabama Stakes (G1).
Chilli Flag won his third consecutive stakes, and first Grade 1, by taking the Just One Game Stakes (G1T) on June 7 at a mile on the turf.
Brown will likely stretch her to 1 1/8 miles for the Diana Stakes (G1T) on July 13 in the opening week at Saratoga.
Co Chili, daughter of City landscape owned by Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Michael Kisber.
Brown also collected a pair of impressive allowance wins from talented Grade 1 runners.
Klaravich’s hybrid Ways and means prevailed in the June 6 handicap race by 8 1/4 lengths. 3 year old boy Practical joke The filly was previously seen finishing fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
“She’s back on track. That’s great. I’ll point her to the Test (Stakes, G1, Aug. 3 at Saratoga), but I don’t know if I’ll run her before or not.”
Ways and Means was second in last year’s Spinaway Stakes (G1) at Spa, which covers the same seven-furlong distance as the Test.
by Klaravich Fortifications made an impressive debut as a 3-year-old when he won the June 8 allowance race by five lengths.
The Speightstown colt was second in last year’s Champagne Stakes (G1).
Brown said he is considering running General Partner in the Dwyer Stakes (G3) on July 6 at Water racetrack.
“I might try him back in the Dwyer Stakes,” Brown said. “It’s running a little fast for how big (speed numbers) are, but I feel like he has a good foundation.”
Dornoch is fine; Society Man to W. Virginia Derby
After the biggest win of his career, trainer Danny Gargan said Saturday that Dornoch was in good spirits after his $2 million Belmont win but he was still weighing his options for the next start.
Dornoch won the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Gargan said he is looking at three factors going into the July 20 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park or Jim Dandy or training to be Travers for his son Good magic ..
Gargan has clearer plans for the 3-year-old Social man who made the trainer’s weekend a happy one by winning the $400,000 Matt Win Stakes (G3) on June 9 at Churchill Downs.
He said gelding Good Magic will enter the Aug. 4 West Virginia Derby (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Resort and Racetrack.
