Very little came easy for Chancer McPatrick in 2024. Yet he was able to overcome some difficult trips to win his first three starts, including two longstanding Grade 1 stakes, a résumé good enough to earn him a spot as a finalist for the Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division. Bred by Rigney Racing LLC, Chancer McPatrick was a $725,000 purchase by agents Nick Sallusto and John Kimmel on behalf of Sean Flanagan at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s April 2-year-olds in training sale. The son of McKinzie was sent to trainer Chad Brown. In his debut, on July 21 at Saratoga, Chancer McPatrick broke in midpack, yet soon retreated to the back of the 10-horse field under Flavien Prat. Chancer McPatrick was last going into the far turn of the 6 1/2-furlong race, was still six lengths behind with a furlong to run, yet kicked home hard to win by three-quarters of a length. On Sept. 2, in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Hopeful, Chancer McPatrick hit the side of the gate after the doors opened. Prat adeptly put his foot back in the irons, and he rallied from last, outfinishing favored Ferocious to win by a half-length. :: Full list of 2024 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories Brown said when he saw the trouble Chancer McPatrick had early on in the Hopeful, he started focusing on his other entrant in the race, Incentive Pay. “Then [Chancer McPatrick] crept into my eye when he got behind them, I said, ‘Well, he’s got a lot to do, he’s got to make up a lot of ground to get there,’ ” Brown said. “He ran a remarkable race. He’s a serious horse. He always acted like one, and I was happy to see him do it.” In the Grade 1 Champagne, on Oct. 5 at Aqueduct, Chancer McPatrick broke on top and again retreated to the back of the pack. He made a long, sustained, wide rally and ran by Tip Top Thomas to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Chancer McPatrick became the 11th horse in 60 years to win the Hopeful and Champagne, a list that includes Buckpasser, Dehere, Shanghai Bobby, and Jackie’s Warrior. “He runs his races like he’s a year older than he is. He runs like an experienced, fit 3-year-old,” Brown said after the Champagne. “He’s got a long, strong run. He showed it all three of his starts. The way he finished up and the way he relaxed, I don’t see going two turns as problem.” Chancer McPatrick’s first try around two turns, in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar, did not go well. After a wide trip breaking from post 10, he finished sixth, 6 1/2 lengths behind Citizen Bull. “Maybe he didn’t care for the track,” Brown said. Brown will likely give Chancer McPatrick additional opportunities to prove himself around two turns. Brown said in early January that Chancer McPatrick needed a little extra time after the Breeders’ Cup and he has gotten behind schedule with him as far as making his 3-year-old debut. Initially targeting a race in February, Brown said he now hopes to get Chancer McPatrick back to the races in early March. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.