Does Brown go longer or shorter with Diana-winner Whitebeam next?
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Winning the Grade 1 Diana Stakes continues to come easy for trainer Chad Brown. Figuring out what to do next with the winner is more of a challenge.
Whitebeam gave Brown his eighth Diana victory on Saturday, edging the Brown-trained and defending Diana winner In Italian by a nose. It was the second straight stakes victory for Whitebeam, first at 1 1/8 miles.
Last year, after In Italian won the Diana, Brown waited to run her back until the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland in October. In Italian won the First Lady before finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf when it was run at 1 3/16 miles. She is likely to run in the First Lady again on Oct. 7 at Keeneland.
Brown isn’t sure whether to cut Whitebeam back in distance or perhaps try her a little longer.
The next available race at Saratoga at a middle distance is the Grade 2, $300,000 Ballston Spa going 1 1/16 miles here on Aug. 24.
“It’s hard to go back from a Grade 1 even though the purse is very good,” Brown said. “We’ll see.”
Brown noted that, in the Diana, Whitebeam may have benefitted from carrying six fewer pounds than In Italian over ground with some give in it.
“In Italian was making all the fractions on a little softish ground, probably a little quick,” Brown said. “In Italian ran an outstanding race even though she didn’t win. Now, Whitebeam is going to have to step up after a Grade 1 win and carry more weight, so that’s a consideration.”
Also a consideration is the fact Brown has a plethora of female turf runners earmarked for other spots. McKulick and Virginia Joy are likely to make their next starts in the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls going 1 1/2 miles here on Aug. 3 with potentially one or both returning in the Grade 2, $500,000 Flower Bowl on Sept. 2.
Brown said Consumer Spending, winner of the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth on June 17, will return to Monmouth Saturday for the Grade 3, $300,000 Matchmaker.
Gina Romantica, last year’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II winner who finished fourth in the Eatontown, is being pointed to the Grade 1, $500,000 Beverly D at Colonial Downs on Aug. 12.
Meanwhile, Brown entered five 3-year-old fillies in Friday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Lake George Stakes, a one-mile race which drew a field of 10.
Brown has Liguria and Tax Implications, the one-two finishers from the Wild Applause Stakes on June 24 at Belmont; Revalita, third in the Grade 2 Wonder Again, and maiden winners Surge Capacity and Utilization Rate.
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