Catch a Bid figures as Riskaverse favorite

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There seems to be no end to the number of talented 3-year-old filly turf specialists in trainer Chad Brown’s barn.

On Saturday, Regal Glory and Blowout ran first and third, respectively, here in the Grade 2 Lake Placid, several hours before their stablemate Cambier Parc captured the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. Five days later, Brown returns with two more up-and-coming 3-year-old filly stakes candidates, Catch a Bid and New and Improved, who will be among the favorite’s in Thursday’s $100,000 Riskaverse.

The one-mile Riskaverse is restricted to 3-year-old fillies who have never won a stakes at a mile or longer. The race drew a field of nine plus one main-track-only entrant, a group that includes Varenka, who lost her eligibility for this event after dead-heating with Regal Glory for the victory in the Lake Placid.

Catch a Bid figures to go postward the public’s choice in the Riskaverse, not only off her own merits but as a result of Varenka’s outstanding performance five days earlier in the Lake Placid. Catch a Bid finished second, a neck behind that rival, following an extended stretch duel under first-level optional claiming and allowance conditions going 1 1/16 miles here early in the meet. She had that effort flattered when Varenka became a graded stakes winner last weekend.

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“Obviously she’s coming off a big race against Varenka and that bodes well for her,” said Brown, who trains Catch a Bid for Klaravich Stables. “And I think she’s really going to appreciate going back to a mile.”

Catch a Bid won her career debut at a mile by 4 1/2 widening lengths on June 6 at Belmont Park.

New and Improved has run just once, overcoming a slow start before rallying wide from near the rear of the pack and surging late to a one-length tally when also launching her career at a mile.

“New and Improved is a horse I’ve always been high on and her debut was very impressive given the trip,” said Brown.

The most intriguing member of the field may be the Irish-bred Hotsy Totsy, who makes her U.S. debut in the Riskaverse. Now with trainer Christophe Clement, Hotsy Totsy ran four times in England prior to shipping to the states, winning twice earlier this year with both those victories coming at seven furlongs. She will race on Lasix for the first time on Thursday.

Joel Rosario will have the mount aboard Hotsy Totsy, who races in the interests of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Randy Hill.

The remainder of the lineup includes last out winners Peaceful and Ionic; the improving All Quality who was a close second here in a first-level allowance/optional claimer here on Aug. 9; Midwest invader Dalika, a two-time winner who began her career in her native Germany; and former claimer Xanthique, a tiring ninth behind Varenka and Catch a Bid in her last start. Queen of Beas was entered for the main track.