Brown runners will have to step up their games in Pebbles Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Two runners coming off just maiden wins and one off a disappointing effort in allowance company comprise a trio of 3-year-old fillies trainer Chad Brown sends out seeking his sixth victory in the Grade 3, $200,000 Pebbles Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Pebbles, at one mile on turf, goes as race 6 on a card that includes the Grade 2, $300,000 Red Smith Stakes.

Rhiannon, a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, finished sixth on debut in the mud at Saratoga before winning a maiden race on turf by seven lengths at Aqueduct on Sept. 16.

“She trained really good on the turf. It was nice to get her on there on a day when we were on the turf and she got to show her ability,” Brown said.

Startup Mentality, an Irish-bred daughter of Kingman, won her debut on July 22 at Monmouth Park. Brown said Startup Mentality got sick after that, which is why she hasn’t run since.

Implicated, a daughter of Connect, won both of her starts over Aqueduct’s turf course last fall, including the Chelsey Flower Stakes. She didn’t get back to the races until Oct. 19, when she finished fourth in a second-level allowance.

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“She disappointed me,” Brown said. “Maybe she needed the race, which would be a little unusual for our horses. We usually have them ready off a break, at least to run better than that.

“I thought she got a beautiful trip and she just didn’t fire. We figured just draw a line through it, wheel her back on short rest with limited time left in the season, and see if she can return to her form last year which was very good.”

Sacred Wish won the Winter Memories Stakes here in her turf debut on Sept. 19. After getting squeezed at the break, Sacred Wish finished fourth in the Grade 3 Valley View on Oct. 27 and now wheels back on short rest for trainer George Weaver.

Trainer Christophe Clement sends out the uncoupled entry of Plentitude and Silver Skillet. Plentitude is stretching out to a mile after making her first three starts at six furlongs or shorter.

“I’ve been waiting to run her for more than 60 days,” Clement said. “I got a question mark if she’ll stay a mile. It’s the right time to be aggressive.”

Silver Skillet was outfinished by Sacred Wish in the Winter Memories before setting the pace and just getting run down by Amanda’s Folly in the off-the-turf Ticonderoga at Aqueduct on Oct. 29.

“I’m being very aggressive running her back this quick, but she’s never run a bad race,” Clement said. “I would have loved to give her a little more time but she’s a New York-bred, she’s in New York, and she’s doing very well.”

On the Shortlist and Precious Avary, both coming off wins, ship in from the Mid-Atlantic region. Stephanie’s Charm completes the field.

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