Brown ships in sharp pair for Santa Ana
Chad Brown has a problem – a nice one – that he has turned into an opportunity. With an abundance of older female turf runners in his barn and only so many places to run them, he has sent two all the way from Florida to California for the Grade 2, $200,000 Santa Ana Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.
Rosalind and Testa Rossi are both coming off sharp efforts in their 2015 debuts. Rosalind was making her first start for Brown when she finished second in the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream on Feb. 7. Testa Rossi was placed first via disqualification after crossing the wire second in the Grade 3 Endeavour at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 31.
Neither ran last weekend at Tampa, where Brown finished one-two in the Hillsborough with Stephanie’s Kitten and Ball Dancing. Brown said he thought the one-mile Honey Fox at Gulfstream on March 28 was too short for Rosalind and Testa Rossi. So, seeking more ground, he sent them to Santa Anita for the 1 1/8-mile Santa Ana.
“There were a lack of opportunities this time of year back here,” Brown said Friday from Florida, “and we want to keep them in good form as the turf season heats up, so the race out there looked like the right spot.”
The Santa Ana came up with a terrific field of 11. The best local hope is Diversy Harbor, who comes off a win in the Grade 2 Buena Vista on Feb. 16. Graham Motion sends out a trio of runners – Hoop of Colour, Lady of Gold, and Rusty Slipper – while stakes winners Queen of The Sand and Three Hearts are making their 2015 debuts.
Santa Ana, race 7
KEY CONTENDERS
Rosalind (Last 3 Beyers: 89-66-73)
◗ She was forced to rally wide when finishing second in the Suwannee River, which, like the Santa Ana, is at 1 1/8 miles. Joel Rosario, who rode her that day, is flying out here to retain the mount.
◗ The Suwannee River was her first start in 3 1/2 months. “It was a very encouraging race,” Brown said. “I thought she ran well. The race should have done her some good.”
Testa Rossi (Last 3 Beyers: 87-82-75)
◗ She tailed off last year but appeared to be rounding back to her best form in the Endeavour.
“She did get impeded. She was going to be right there,” Brown said. “She seems to have really moved forward since that race. She had worked well going into that race, but from then until now, I’d describe her works as excellent.”
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Testa Rossi. Trainer Chad Brown is 25-4-7-3 with a $0.84 ROI over the past two years in turf route graded stakes with last-out winners in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Diversy Harbor (Last 3 Beyers: 94-87-87)
◗ She’s strictly the one to beat, both in terms of current form and having the home-field advantage. She absolutely adores Santa Anita, where she has finished in the money in all eight of her starts, including three wins.
◗ She does pick up five pounds off the Buena Vista and thus must carry the heaviest impost of her career, 123 pounds, while conceding five pounds to all 10 rivals.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Diversy Harbor. Trainer Tom Proctor is 13-6-1-1 with a $3.67 ROI over the past two years in turf route graded stakes with last-out winners in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Three Hearts (Last 3 Beyers: 86-90-81)
◗ She was a close third earlier at this meet in the Grade 3 Frankel, also at 1 1/8 miles, finishing just a neck behind Diversy Harbor while not having the cleanest of runs through the lane.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Hoop of Colour. Trainer Graham Motion is 13-4-1-3 with a $4.60 ROI over the past two years in turf route graded stakes with last-out winners in the second start following a layoff. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan