Economic Model to run in Godolphin Mile

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Economic Model, winner of the Hal’s Hope at Gulfstream Park in his last start, will be among the dozen or so American horses on an overseas flight next Tuesday to the Dubai World Cup Carnival, trainer Chad Brown said this week.

Brown said Economic Model will run in the $1 million Godolphin Mile on the March 31 Dubai World Cup undercard. The 5-year-old horse was sold privately by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence to as yet undisclosed buyers since winning the Feb. 24 Hal’s Hope but has remained in his care, said Brown.

A Dubai-bound flight will originate Monday in Southern California prior to a stopover in New Orleans and then fly out of Fort Lauderdale International Airport on Tuesday after taking on a handful of Florida horses, including Economic Model, Gunnevera, Sharp Azteca, and Mind Your Biscuits.

Brown, like so many of his training brethren, has remained extremely busy despite the lull between major stakes dates this month at Gulfstream. Aside from being active at the Ocala sale this week, Brown also has been overseeing the daily training and making plans for the many graded stakes horses in his powerhouse stable at the Palm Meadows training center, including Good Magic, one of the favorites for the May 5 Kentucky Derby.

Brown said he is “still leaning toward” the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland as the final Derby prep for Good Magic, who is tentatively scheduled to breeze Saturday in his first work since a third-place finish as the odds-on favorite here in his 3-year-old debut, the March 3 Fountain of Youth.

As for other Brown horses:

◗ Rushing Fall, the undefeated turf filly, missed a work last weekend because of a minor hoof bruise but is still a good possibility to make her 3-year-old debut as a huge favorite in the April 8 Appalachian at Keeneland. She has had two breezes since easing back into training.

“She’s back doing very well and we’re hoping to make it,” said Brown.

◗ Beach Patrol, a 2017 Eclipse Award finalist for top turf horse, is on a regular work schedule toward the newly renamed Old Forester Turf Classic (formerly the Woodford Reserve) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

◗ Mask had his first work since being briefly sidelined, going three furlongs last Friday in 36.20. He is no longer under consideration for the Derby.

“I’m not sure about his next start,” said Brown. “I need to see his next two works and go from there.”

◗ Analyze It, working right along since early February, figures to be a big favorite in the Transylvania Stakes on the April 6 opener at Keeneland after spectacular wins in both of his races last year at 2.

◗ Lewis Bay will turn back to seven furlongs in the April 7 Madison at Keeneland off back-to-back one-mile races at this championship meet, the Rampart and Royal Delta.

◗ Elysea’s World “is getting a little freshening” since winning the Feb. 10 Suwanee River at Gulfstream and “probably won’t run until the Beaugay” on May 12 at Belmont Park, said Brown.

◗ Altea, third in a blanket finish last Saturday in the Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs, is a possibility for the Appalachian, although both she and Salsa Bella (fifth in the Florida Oaks) could run back in the Edgewood on the May 4 Kentucky Oaks undercard.

◗ Off Limits, a solid fifth in the Hillsborough last Saturday at Tampa, will run back in the 1 1/16-mile Jenny Wiley on April 14 on the Keeneland turf, but Fourstar Crook, winner of the Hillsborough for Brown, most likely will not. “It’s probably a little short for her,” he said. “I’m not sure what we’ll do next with her.”

◗ Favorable Outcome, sixth as the even-money favorite in the March 3 Gulfstream Sprint, “was pretty disappointing,” said Brown.

“We’re going to start with a clean slate with him,” he said.

◗ Separationofpowers, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies after winning the Grade 1 Frizette, is in light training with Nick de Meric in Ocala and will rejoin the stable soon.

◗ The standout turf mare Grand Jete has been on hiatus since the Breeders’ Cup but has not been retired and “will be back racing, hopefully by the summer,” said Brown.