Brown and Saratoga boys coming to town

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – Trainer Chad Brown, who has major contenders in all three Grade 1 races here Saturday, said via text message that he intends to be on a private charter that will depart Saratoga at about 11 a.m. Eastern on race morning, with arrival in Chicago expected around noon Central. At least five jockeys also will be on the plane, which will return Saturday night to Saratoga: John Velazquez, Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose Ortiz, Joel Rosario, and Florent Geroux.

While Brown has been here to saddle horses for major races, he didn’t make the trip last year, when he swept the Million with Beach Patrol and the Beverly D. with Dacita.

American St. Leger dropped

Conspicuous by its absence from the Saturday card is the American St. Leger, which was won by such standouts as The Pizza Man (2014) and Da Big Hoss (2016) during its six-year existence. Contested at the unusual distance of 1 11/16 miles, the American St. Leger – worth $250,000 last year – was dropped from the Arlington stakes schedule amid ongoing purse constraints.

Two other stakes remain on the Saturday card in support of the three Grade 1 events: the Grade 3, $100,000 Pucker Up, for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the $100,000 Bruce D. Memorial, for 3-year-olds going a mile on Polytrack.

Dona Bruja with another try

Trainer Ignacio Correas has had the Beverly D. uppermost in mind for Dona Bruja since shortly after the Argentine-bred mare finished second in a dead heat behind Dacita last year.

“You can’t take anything from the winner, but I didn’t have the trip I wanted last year,” said Correas. “But that’s racing. The filly is training very good for this, and I’m very happy with her. It’s a tough bunch. It’s one of those races where you could run fifth and only get beat a length. We’ll try to have some luck this time.”