Competitionofideas to get break, Brown says

ARCADIA, Calif. - Competitionofideas rumbled past seven rivals to win her Grade 1 debut in Saturday’s $301,035 American Oaks at Santa Anita.

The victory concluded an outstanding December for Eastern-based trainer Chad Brown – in California.

Brown had three Grade 1 wins in California in December, including Raging Bull in the Hollywood Derby and Uni in the Matriarch Stakes on the first weekend of the month at Del Mar.

“We’ve been fortunate to have success out West,” he said in a Sunday phone conversation on Sunday.

Brown said he will consider additional runners at Santa Anita’s winter-spring meeting in coming months. As for Competitionofideas, she will be given a break, pending a conversation with owner Seth Klarman, Brown said. Competitionofideas will spend the winter with Brown’s Florida Stable at the Palm Meadows training center.

“I think she’s earned a little bit of a break and we can focus on a spring and summer campaign,” Brown said. “I’d say it’s unlikely she’ll run again this winter.”

By Speightstown, Competitionofideas has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $315,568. She won her first stakes in the American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles on turf under jockey Joel Rosario. Competitionofideas rallied wide to win by 2 3/4 lengths over 90-1 K P Pergoliscious, who set the pace.

Considering her affinity for the distance, Competitionofideas could develop into a starter for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf here in November, which is also run at 1 1/4 miles. Brown was not taking the bait on such a suggestion Sunday morning.

“That’s a long way away,” he said.

Competitionofideas won a maiden special weight race at Belmont Park on Sept. 7 in her fourth start. She was third in her stakes debut in the Winter Memories Stakes at a mile at Aqueduct on Nov. 22, a race transferred from turf to dirt.

“She’s a lightly raced horse that has developed this fall for us,” Brown said. “Her physical and mental development has been impressive.”

Kp Pergoliscious is trained by Jeff Mullins, who also finished third with Amandine, the winner of the Lady of Shamrock Stakes on Dec. 26.

Amandine made the quick turnaround after training well in the brief period between races, notably an enthusiastic trip to the track on Saturday morning, co-owner Tim Cohen said that day.

On Sunday, Cohen reported that Amandine had emerged from the race in “good shape.”

“Of course, we asked a lot of her, but she is holding her weight and energy,” Cohen wrote in a text message. “When she is ready to go, we are. She has an exciting future.”