Brown double-teams them in allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown has two wins and three seconds in the six turf races he’s participated in at the Aqueduct meet. He will look to run one-two when he sends out Volatility Index and War Queen in Wednesday’s first-level allowance feature, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles over the turf course.

Volatility Index, a debut winner at Gulfstream, breaks from the rail under Irad Ortiz Jr., while War Queen, third in her first start in 10 months, breaks from the outside in a 10-horse field.

Volatility Index rolled to a 5 3/4-length victory on Jan. 16 at Gulfstream Park. Under Joel Rosario, Volatility Index took over just after the opening half-mile, opened up a large lead in midstretch, but had to be kept to her task as she appeared to be pulling herself up.

“She was all alone down the stretch – that didn’t concern me too much,” Brown said. “She always trained like a horse with a lot of ability. It took a long time to get there. It was never anything real serious with her, it just took a while to finally come together.”

Brown said Volatility Index got sick shortly after her debut, which explains why she went a month without a workout and three months without a race.

War Queen, a daughter of Acclamation, had been away from the races for 10 months when she returned in a first-level allowance on March 11 at Gulfstream Park. War Queen was extremely rank in the early stages and only settled about three furlongs into the race. She split horses and rallied inside in deep stretch but could only manage third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

“It wasn’t the trip I was looking for,” Brown said.

Glory Kitten and Battlement are three-time winners in the field. Glory Kitten was claimed on Feb. 2 at Gulfstream Park for $30,000 and then three weeks later won a starter allowance. She has been moved by her owners to trainer Danny Gargan.

Battlement, a daughter of Dansili owned and bred by Juddmonte Farms, won three races last year in England, but the purses were so low that she remains eligible to this first-level allowance condition. She is making her first start for trainer Bill Mott.

KEY CONTENDERS

Volatility Index, by Mizzen Mast

Beyer: 77

◗ Runners from the field she defeated on Jan. 16 are 1 for 10 out of that race.

War Queen, by Acclamation

Beyers: 79-72

◗ She was a beaten favorite in both of her starts in the U.S.

Bargaining Table, by Brother Derek

Last 3 Beyers: 69-83-81

◗ Seven-year-old mare absolutely thrives at Aqueduct, with a 5-1-1 mark from eight starts over the course, albeit mostly in claiming races.

◗ She was third in a first-level allowance race last Nov. 13.