Brown excited to train Chilean star Il Campione

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown’s arsenal of turf stars will increase by one with the arrival of Chilean champion Il Campione, who soon will join his barn after being purchased privately by a Lane’s End partnership.

Il Campione, a son of Scat Daddy, has won 8 of 10 starts, including four Group 1 races in his native Chile. His graded victories came on grass at distances ranging from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/2 miles.

“They just completed the deal to buy that horse, so I’m not sure yet when he’s going to arrive here,” said Brown. “I’ve heard about the horse and watched tapes of his races, and I’m thrilled and honored to get this horse. It seems he’s got quite a following in his homeland, and hopefully we can build off that here in America.”

Il Campione was voted champion 2-year-old and 3-year-old in Chile the past two years. He won his only two starts this season, including the Group 1 El Derby at 1 1/2 miles by 9 1/4 lengths Feb. 1.

“He hasn’t raced on the dirt yet,” said Brown. “He was scheduled to run on dirt in the second leg of the Chilean Triple Crown and lost the rider at the start. So, it’s hard to gauge if he can handle the dirt at this point. We’re excited to get our hands on him and put him on our program and see what he can do. Obviously, right off the bat, you’re looking at races like the Arlington Million if it appears he’s good enough and has the credentials to make races like that. But we also won’t rule out getting him on dirt at some point if he trains well over it.”

Brown also updated the status of Lady Eli and Social Inclusion, who joined his barn this winter.

Lady Eli has been idle since her impressive win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Social Inclusion has been sidelined with a tendon issue discovered shortly after the Haskell Invitational last August.

“Lady Eli has had two workouts. Both of them were great, and right now, I’m pointing her for the Appalachian at Keeneland on April 12,” said Brown. “Social Inclusion is also doing very well and should be ready to have his first work very soon.”

◗ Trainer Jorge Navarro said Private Zone continues to progress toward his 2015 debut, which is likely to come in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap on March 7. The race also is expected to attract Honor Code, Valid, and Transparent, according to stakes coordinator Mike Costanzo. Nominations for the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap close Saturday.