Brown duo brings contrasting profiles into Beaugay Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – In Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park, there is the known and the unknown. And they both come from the same barn.

In Competitionofideas, trainer Chad Brown has a filly who has won her last three turf races, including the Grade 1 American Oaks last Dec. 29. In Homerique, Brown sends out a multiple Group 1-placed runner in France who makes her first start in seven months and first in North America.

The Beaugay was the intended target for Competitionofideas, who had a steady work schedule in South Florida all winter. On Monday, she blew out an easy half-mile in 52.01 seconds in company with the graded stakes winner Fifty Five.

“She went a real easy half on purpose,” Brown said. “We wanted her to stretch her legs. She’s had plenty of works all winter. I think she’s ready to go for the Beaugay.”

Prior to winning the American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita, Competitionofideas won both a maiden race and a first-level allowance at Belmont at the Beaugay’s distance of 1 1/16 miles.

Brown had considered Homerique for an allowance race that didn’t fill. Homerique was firing bullets at Palm Meadows this spring and, after missing a workout mostly due to inclement weather, went a half-mile in company with the champion female turf horse Sistercharlie on Monday. The pair went in 48.92 seconds on dirt.

Homerique’s better races came at 1 1/4 miles or farther. She finished a nose behind Magic Wand in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera last Oct. 7 at Chantilly. Magic Wand, who finished second in the Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream in January, is entered in Saturday’s Grade 1, $700,000 Man o’ War.

Another unknown in the field is the German-bred Binti Al Nar, who makes her first start since October. She won a Group 3 in Italy and has two victories in 11 starts. She has raced in Germany, England, and France in addition to Italy.

Christophe Clement, a three-time winner of the Beaugay, sends out Chipolata, who rallied into a slow pace to win a second-level allowance here April 11 in her first start of the year.

“It’s a bit ambitious,” Clement said. “I hope they go quick enough to make it a race.”

Andina Del Sur, trained by Tom Albertrani, is only 2 for 13 but did finish a solid second as a pace factor in the Pebbles Stakes here last October. Luis Saez rides her from post 2.

Matty’s Magnum won three consecutive off-the-turf races last year, including a victory over Competitionofideas in the Winter Memories Stakes. She is only 1 for 10 on turf.

The Beaugay goes as race 7 on the 11-race card.