Brown duo fresh and ready for Friday allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – As the days and hours tick down to the Eclipse Award ceremonies Saturday night at Gulfstream Park, Chad Brown will be glad to distract himself from the anxious buildup.

Brown, a finalist for outstanding trainer of 2016, will be represented by a pair of contenders in the first of back-to-back allowances that highlight a 10-race Friday card at Gulfstream.

March, a multiple graded stakes winner on dirt, will continue his transformation into a turf router as the likely favorite in the third race, a $50,000, third-level allowance at 1 1/16 miles on the grass. At the same time, Saham, unraced for nearly 14 months, will resurface with Brown as his new trainer.

March, a 5-year-old horse owned by Robert LaPenta, will make his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Knickerbocker on Oct. 10 at Aqueduct.

“I freshened him a bit, and he seems to have appreciated that,” said Brown, who led all trainers last year with more than $23 million in stable earnings.

Saham won the Grade 3 Jefferson Cup in September 2015 at Churchill Downs for his previous trainer, Brendan Walsh. The 5-year-old horse was a private purchase for a partnership that includes Michael Dubb and Head of Plains Partners.

“He acts like a horse with plenty of quality,” said Brown.

Given a brilliant weather forecast through the weekend, no more than four other horses will face the uncoupled Brown duo, with Ballagh Rocks and Conquest Typhoon the chief threats. Mylute is likely to scratch as a main-track-only entrant.

First post Friday is 12:35 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 1:33. The ensuing allowance (race 4) is a $48,000, first-level sprint matching seven 3-year-old fillies.

KEY CONTENDERS

March, by Blame

Last 3 Beyers: 97-98-98

◗ A six-race victory drought that followed consecutive wins in the 2015 Bay Shore and Woody Stephens might well come to a halt if he runs as he has trained recently at the Palm Meadows training center. “His last breeze was really good,” said Brown.

Saham, by Lemon Drop Kid

Last 3 Beyers: 93-86-88

◗ Pennsylvania-bred developed quite a closing kick as his career unfolded and now basically starts anew following a total of 16 recorded workouts at four different tracks since late July.

Ballagh Rocks, by Stormy Atlantic

Last 3 Beyers: 95-88-81

◗ Four-year-old colt has won three of his last four starts for Donegal Racing and trainer Bill Mott, with his latest score resulting in a career-high Beyer Speed Figure over the local course Dec. 26.

Conquest Typhoon, by Stormy Atlantic

Last 3 Beyers: 79-96-95

◗ Ontario-bred earner of more than $550,000 is a Sovereign Award winner making his first start under Gary Barber’s hot-pink silks after being acquired out of the Conquest Stables dispersal in November.