Chad Brown new trainer of Social Inclusion

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown said Tuesday that Social Inclusion will join his stable at Saratoga on Wednesday. The seventh-place finisher in Sunday’s Grade 1 Haskell, Social Inclusion is owned by Rontos Racing Stable and has been based at Gulfstream Park throughout his 3-year-old campaign with Manny Azpurua.

Social Inclusion, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, was unraced at 2 but became an instant sensation after winning his 3-year-old debut by 7 1/2 lengths this winter at Gulfstream Park and then trouncing the top Kentucky Derby prospect Honor Code by 10 lengths in his second start. Social Inclusion finished third after a somewhat troubled trip in the Grade 1 Wood, third in the Preakness, and third as the favorite in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens prior to competing in the Haskell. Social Inclusion, who has been high strung and had gate issues throughout his career, raced without Lasix for the first time in the Haskell and had his best chances compromised when he stumbled at the break.

“They called me yesterday and asked me if I’d train the horse,” Brown said by phone from Belmont Park early Tuesday morning. “I really don’t have much to say until I get a chance to evaluate the horse. Obviously he has a ton of ability and has run some really good races for his current conditioner, and hopefully we can take it from there and do some good things with him moving forward.”

Owner Ron Sanchez said sending Social Inclusion to Brown was a mutual decision between himself and trainer Manny Azpurua.

“Manny is 85 years old and was getting too tired travelling around with the horse,” said Sanchez. “Social Inclusion needs to be in New York now because I’m thinking of maybe running him in the King’s Bishop next and then hopefully being able to go on to the Breeders’ Cup. Manny will still continue to train all my other horses in Florida. I admit we made some mistakes with this horse, rushing him up like we did earlier in the year, and I know he’s going to improve once he gets to New York with Chad.”