Brown has strong pair for turf allowance

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – For the first time since late December there will be a five-day race-week on the New York Racing Association circuit beginning Wednesday with a nine-race card at Aqueduct. Just don’t get used to it. Over the next two months there will be only one other five-day week (May 23-27) until after the Belmont Stakes.

Weather permitting, turf racing will be front and center over the final nine programs at Aqueduct with 13 of the 27 races carded through Friday scheduled for the turf. That includes Wednesday’s feature, a first-level allowance race for 3-year-old fillies going one mile topped by trainer Chad Brown’s uncoupled duo of Beautiful Lover and Multi Strategy.

Beautiful Lover finished fourth at Gulfstream in her debut on Jan. 12. She lost her inside position midway down the backstretch, had to go five wide turning for home, and flattened out while finishing three lengths behind her stablemate Connectivity.

:: Shop for PPs, picks, DRF+ and more in our store!

Beautiful Lover came back 39 days later and took advantage of her inside post before tipping three wide and gliding away in the stretch to a 4 1/2-length victory going a mile against Florida-breds.

“She had a little bit of a tricky trip first time out,” trainer Chad Brown said. “She learned a lot and was much more professional second time. She’s ready to take the next step. We’ve always liked her.”

Multi Strategy won a maiden race at Belmont last Oct. 8. Two months later, she was flat finishing eighth behind A Bit Special in the Wait a While Stakes. This will be her first start since then.

Western Curl won her debut on turf last October, and returns to that surface for the first time since in this spot. Makeme Dream was a good-looking debut winner at Tampa for trainer Christophe Clement.

KEY CONTENDERS

Beautiful Lover, by Arch
Beyers: 74-76

◗ She is a half-sister to the $1 million earner Zivo, though he made his mark on the dirt.

Makeme Dream, by Quality Road
Beyer: 67

◗ Made an early move into a slow pace to challenge for the lead in her debut and continued on to romp by 5 1/4 lengths at Tampa on Feb. 2.

Multi Strategy, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 65-67-61

◗ Drops into allowance company after being soundly beaten by the very strong A Bit Special in the Wait a While Stakes at Gulfstream.

After the Wait a While, Multi Strategy was in need of a freshening, Brown said.

“She had been on the go since May when we got her,” Brown said. “We let her mature a little bit mentally and physically, and she looks like a stronger, more prepared horse.”

Western Curl, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 65-72-69

◗ Best race came at Woodbine on turf in her career debut when she beat 10 rivals while pressing a moderate pace.

◗ Shows a solid five-furlong work over the Palm Meadows turf for this.