Brown gearing up for second wave at Keeneland, among other targets

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The maneuvers of the Chad Brown stable are not unlike those in the old board game Risk, with moments of relative inactivity being followed by momentous skirmishes and subsequent regroupings.

The four springtime weeks during which Brown’s charges occupy the equine barracks at Keeneland and Churchill Downs are fluid ones, with horses shipping in and out, depending on the nature of their marching orders. Through the first half of the 16-day meet at Keeneland – his first major battleground following several months largely characterized by intense training in Florida – Brown had accomplished enough to be able to see his name atop the trainer standings, both in wins (6) and earnings ($663,549). And his work certainly is not finished here.

“We’ve got more – maidens and allowance horses – for what remains here at Keeneland,” said Brown. “In the meantime, we’re flying up some of our horses who stayed behind in Florida to go to Churchill for their races on Derby weekend.”

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Brown also sends Electric Forest in the Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland on Friday.

Those April 22 ship-ins from Florida include Bricks and Mortar and Ticonderoga for the Old Forester Turf Classic; Newspaperofrecord and Cambier Parc for the Edgewood; and Digital Age for the American Turf.

In addition, Precieuse is coming from Florida for the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile, joining Environs, a sharp allowance winner here on April 5, and possibly Rushing Fall, winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley here on Saturday. Brown said he “very much” hopes that Dunbar Road can crack the 14-horse cutoff for the Kentucky Oaks, although she was 16th in the updated points standings as of Monday. Dunbar Road breezed Saturday at Palm Meadows.

Brown said that Raging Bull, fourth in the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile last Friday, might wheel back in the Old Forester. Honest Mischief, who earned a 93 Beyer in winning an April 6 maiden race by eight lengths, could run next in the June 8 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park.

Also, Separationofpowers, who had been considered for the Humana Distaff, goes in the May 11 Vagrancy at Belmont, while Feedback, third at odds-on in the April 7 Beaumont, will return to his New York base.

Brown was on hand for several days last week, including in the winner’s circle with Rushing Fall, but otherwise has deputized assistant Jose Hernandez while tending to business elsewhere as this meet has unfolded.

Through Sunday, Brown led the spring meet standings by one win over Brad Cox (5) and a trio with four wins each – Brendan Walsh, Dallas Stewart, and Ian Wilkes. Last spring, Brown went 12 for 23 here, coming within one win of tying Cox and Wesley Ward (13 each) for what would have been his first Keeneland title.