Aqueduct: Two Browns add up to four starters in Kings Point, Stymie
What can Brown do for you?
That question will be pondered by chalk players and value seekers at Aqueduct on Saturday, when Chad Brown sends out morning-line favorites Zivo and Mail in the Kings Point and the Stymie, and Bruce Brown counters with Beautyinthepulpit and Gourmet Dinner in the two $100,000 stakes for older males.
Zivo, the 6-5 choice against five New York-breds in the Kings Point, stretches out to 1 1/16 miles after rallying late to win twice at a mile earlier at the meet, including a score in the Whodam overnight stakes.
“He seems to like the inner track,” Chad Brown said of the deep closer. “He definitely prefers to run at some pace, but he’s pretty adaptable.”
The pace will be supplied by Comandante, who wired the Alex M. Robb to close out 2013 with three straight wins before fading late in the Whodam.
“We didn’t have much of an excuse. He just didn’t fire,” said Byron Hughes, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher. “He seems to be in good form. He hasn’t missed a beat in the morning, except for days the track’s been closed. I expect a good, solid effort from him. I definitely think two turns is where he’s best.”
Beautyinthepulpit also may have a say in the early fractions after returning from more than a year on the sidelines to finish third in a high-end optional claimer recently. He was a debut winner in the slop at Saratoga and could benefit from an expected wet track.
The deep closer Awesome Vision is 4 for 6 routing on the inner track and comes off third-place finishes to Comandante and Zivo.
The 1 1/8-mile Stymie, race 9, was originally scheduled for last Saturday. The make-up version picked up an additional starter in Dawly, who gets a class check while in raging form for Rudy Rodriguez.
Mail stamped himself a horse to watch posting a win in the Traskwood overnight stakes to conclude his 3-year-old campaign for Chad Brown. He is the 2-1 choice for his first try against older stakes foes.
Percussion comes off a career-high 106 Beyer when second in the Evening Attire on a good track. The 6-year-old Percussion may benefit from both the extra week of rest and rain earlier in the week.
Gourmet Dinner, whose bankroll of nearly $1.2 million includes a 20-1 upset in the 2010 Delta Downs Jackpot, returns to New York for a third stint with Bruce Brown after chasing Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park five weeks ago.
“He came out of the Sunshine Millions well and shipped back in good,” Bruce Brown said. “He’s been training well since, so hopefully he likes the cooler climate.”
Jonesy Boy and Don Dulce, 1-2 in the Queens County; and Farhaan, who relished off-going to win an overnight stakes last out, complete the field.