Brown scores stakes double with Dunbar Road, Uni

ELMONT, N.Y. – On and off the track, Saturday was a memorable day for trainer Chad Brown.

In the morning, Brown gave the commencement speech at his alma mater, Mechanicville High School, in upstate New York. Several hours later, at Belmont Park, Brown remained at the head of his class by sweeping the pair of stakes including the Grade 2 Mother Goose with Dunbar Road and the listed Perfect Sting with Uni.

“Although these races were very important today, particularly these two fillies who are two of the best in the country, I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” said Brown, who did not make it to Belmont in time for the races. “I was happy I was there. My incredible staff had things in order down there.”

Dunbar Road was ridden by Jose Ortiz, but also by a few other jockeys who tried to keep her pinned in down the backside. Dunbar Road was able to find running room in the three path turning for home, and ran by Classic Fit to win the $250,000 Mother Goose by 2 1/2 lengths. Classic Fit finished second by four lengths over Jeltrin. Cassies Dreamer, Safta, and Wings of Dawn completed the order of finish.

Ortiz, who won four races on the card, said the original instructions were to put Dunbar Road on the lead to avoid getting stuck in traffic. But Ortiz didn’t think that was the right move so he had her just off the pace, less than three lengths behind Classic Fit, who was stalked by Jeltrin through a half-mile in 49.13 seconds.

Cassies Dreamer, under Manny Franco, was trying to keep Dunbar Road pinned in, but at the top of the lane she was out of run and Dunbar Road was moving forward. Once in the clear, it was only a matter of time before Dunbar Road would overtake Classic Fit. She did so inside the eighth pole and drew off for the convincing score.

Dunbar Road, a daughter of Quality Road owned by Peter Brant, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.54 and returned $2.60 as the 1-5 favorite.

“She was traveling comfortable,” Ortiz said. “I never felt like she spit the bit, she always was there for me. I knew whenever I got out of there – I was close to them – I was going to run by them. I like that she showed that she had a good turn of foot. I think this will set her up for later.”

Later is likely the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks going 1 1/8 miles at Saratoga. There, Dunbar Road could meet the Brown-trained Guarana, who is 2 for 2 and coming off a victory in the Grade 1 Acorn.

Asked if he might consider pointing Dunbar Road to the Grade 1 Test to avoid facing Guarana, Brant, half-jokingly said, “Why don’t you tell [Brown] to take the Acorn winner and put her back in the Test.”

Uni wins return in Perfect Sting

One race before the Mother Goose, Uni rallied from last under Joel Rosario to win the $100,000 Perfect Sting by a length over Mrs. Ramona G.

It was the fifth consecutive win for Uni, who went 4 for 4 last year including a victory in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar last Dec. 2. Uni had come out of that race “all jammed up” according to Bradley Weisbord, bloodstock advisor to part-owner Sol Kumin.

Weisbord said the initial plan was to make the Just a Game three weeks ago, but Uni didn’t come to hand quick enough, he said.

In the Perfect Sting, Rosario was content to keep Uni the last of five, but within four lengths of the leader, before tipping the mare out wide turning for home and let her explode in the lane. Uni, a Great Britain-bred daughter of More Than Ready owned by Kumin’s Head of Plains Partners, Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Robert LaPenta, covered the mile in 1:32.84 and returned $2.90 as the favorite.

“She relaxed beautiful like she always has and came with a string run,” Rosario said. “That was impressive.”

“Super impressive off a layoff,” Brown said. “He really rode her so well, very intelligently the whole way, stayed out of trouble.”

Uni is now 5 for 5 at a mile. Brown said he would consider running her against males in the Grade 1 Fourstardave going a mile at Saratoga on Aug. 10.