Brown has two for Gazelle

Trainer Chad Brown will send out a strong one-two punch in Saturday’s Grade 2, $300,000 Gazelle Stakes in Lewis Bay and Clair de Lune. The Gazelle, at 1 1/8 miles, is a stepping-stone to the Kentucky Oaks on May 6 at Churchill Downs.

Lewis Bay returns to Aqueduct, where she won the Grade 2 Demoiselle last Nov. 28. In her lone start this year, Lewis Bay finished second to the undefeated Cathryn Sophia in the Grade 2 Davona Dale at Gulfstream.

Clair de Lune has won her last two starts, both one-mile races here over the inner track.

Trainer Todd Pletcher was initially considering running a pair in the Gazelle but will go with only Mo d’Amour, the two-length winner of the Busher Stakes. Pletcher said that Clipthecouponannie, a New York-bred daughter of Uncle Mo who is 3 for 3 sprinting, will make her next start sprinting.

Others expected to be entered in the Gazelle include Behrnik’s Bank, Dreams to Reality, Flora Dora, and Royal Obsession.