Financial Modeling sticking around

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Financial Modeling, who earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for his victory in last Saturday’s $100,000 Queens County Stakes, will remain in New York for the time being, trainer Chad Brown said Tuesday.

Possible spots for Financial Modeling here include the Jazil, at a mile and 70 yards on Jan. 16, and the Stymie, at 1 1/8 miles on March 13.

“Right now, the horse is doing very well where he is,” Brown said. “I don’t have any plans to move him.”

Though Financial Modeling had won on turf in his race before the Queens County, Brown always thought the horse preferred dirt. Financial Modeling backed up that thought with his 4 1/4-length victory in the Queens County, run at 1 1/8 miles on the inner track.

Brown had Leave the Light On for the same owners – Seth Klarman and William Lawrence – to run in a second-level allowance on dirt, which is why Financial Modeling ran on turf in November.

“The horse had always trained outstanding on the dirt,” Brown said. “We really had high hopes for this horse at different times. He was just injury plagued.”