Brown stable solid for Santa Anita stakes
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The graded stakes winners Favorable Outcome, New Money Honey, and Rymska will be among five runners in graded stakes at Santa Anita later this month for trainer Chad Brown, whose stable leads the nation in earnings.
Brown said Thursday he plans to start Favorable Outcome in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs Dec. 26, New Money Honey and Rymska in the Grade 1 American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/4 miles on turf Dec. 30, and Elysea’s World and Penjade in the Grade 3 Robert Frankel Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf Dec. 30.
Through Wednesday, Brown’s stable has earned $25.8 million, well clear of Todd Pletcher, who is second with $22.05 million in earnings.
New Money Honey won the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks in July, but was sixth in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland on Oct. 14. In her only previous start at Santa Anita, New Money Honey won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November 2016.
Rymska is unbeaten in three starts this year, all stakes on turf, including the Winter Memories Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 23.
Brown said the $300,000 American Oaks will be the final race for New Money Honey and Rymska before they are given a rest until the spring.
“It’s a last opportunity to run in a Grade 1 for 3-year-old fillies,” he said. “We’ve kept them in training a little longer.”
Favorable Outcome won the Grade 2 Swale Stakes at Gulfstream in February. He won an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Aqueduct on Nov. 26.
Other Malibu candidates include Edwards Going Left, who won the Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at Del Mar on Nov. 19; Irish Freedom, who was second in the Grade 3 Native Diver Stakes at Del Mar on Nov. 25; and Pavel, who was 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 4.
The Malibu is one of four stakes on the Dec. 26 opening-day program at Santa Anita. The Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs Dec. 26 is expected to be led by the multiple stakes winners Paradise Woods and Unique Bella.
Trainer Jeff Bonde will have two starters: the stakes winners Miss Sunset and Princess Karen.
In the $150,000 Frankel Stakes, Penjade will try to win her second consecutive stakes. She won the Forever Together Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 25. Expected Frankel entrant Elysea’s World has yet to win a stakes, but has been second or third in five graded stakes in the last 18 months.
