Brown primed for fast start at Keeneland

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Chad Brown ran zero stakes horses last Saturday on the huge Florida Derby card at Gulfstream Park, perhaps hoping that good things will come to those who wait. Brown is absolutely loaded for the first half of the Keeneland spring meet, with Analyze It in the opening-day Transylvania, Good Magic in the Blue Grass, Rushing Fall in the Grade 2 Appalachian on Sunday, and another handful of major contenders in stakes through next Saturday, April 14.

Rushing Fall, a 2017 Eclipse Award finalist for top 2-year-old filly, is perhaps the next superstar on his powerhouse shed row. The eFive Racing Thoroughbreds filly went undefeated in three starts last year, ending with a triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

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“She’s really come on strong in her last couple of works,” said Brown, whose string of 25 horses began settling into Barn 12 on Monday. “We missed a little time with her this winter after she had some filling when she kicked a wall, but it was just an inconvenience. Even a work short, I’d think she’s probably good enough to win Sunday.”

Brown said he has three horses for the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley on April 14: Fourstar Crook, Off Limits, and Sistercharlie. He also said Beach Patrol is part of his local string and remains on target for the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic (formerly the Woodford Reserve) on the Kentucky Derby undercard, while Economic Model stayed behind in Dubai after finishing seventh in the Godolphin Mile and will have a new trainer there.