Fourstar Crook saves day for Brown with Hettinger win

ELMONT, N.Y. - What began as a frustrating afternoon at Belmont Park for trainer Chad Brown ended on a happy note when Fourstar Crook rallied from far back to an impressive 3 1/2-length victory over Tizzelle in the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for New York bred fillies and mares.

Brown had suffered narrow setbacks earlier in the card when his Call Provision was beaten a nose in the Ashley T. Cole Stakes and Carina Mia was run down late by Highway Star to drop a neck decision in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap.

Fourstar Crook, whose eight-race winning streak ended last month at Saratoga in the Yaddo Stakes, saved the day for Brown’s potent stable, but not after some anxious moments for both her connections and backers. Especially after the 3-5 favorite dropped more than 20 lengths off the pace of Barrel of Dreams, who sprinted well clear after a sizzling 46.07 second half-mile split.

Fourstar Crook commenced her rally leaving the backstretch, but still had a lot left do as the leaders turned for home. Tizzelle ultimately overtook the tiring Barrel of Dreams inside the eighth pole, but by that time Fourstar Crook was in full flight, readily running past the tiring leader to win going away under jockey Javier Castellano. Brown did drop another tight photo for place after his fast-closing Ack Naughty fell a nose shy of catching Tizzelle for second money.

Fourstar Crook, a 5-year-old daughter of Freud, completed 1 1/8 miles over a firm course in 1:46.05 and paid $3.50.

Brown admitted to being nervous while watching the race unfold.

“Those fractions were strong, but they were so far ahead and the turf’s been so firm all week, I became concerned turning for home that there just wasn’t enough stretch,” Brown said.

“She [Fourstar Crook] really never disappoints us. She ran terrific even though she got beat last time at Saratoga, she was just unlucky. The winner ran well but had a dynamite trip up the rail. But that’s turf racing, too. It’s hard to win eight races in a row like she did because the races are so trip-dependent, so pace-dependent.”

Brown said he is considering wheeling Fourstar Crook back in three weeks in the E.P. Taylor at Woodbine.

“I was thinking if things went well today, we’d give her a shot in a Grade 1 and then shut her down for the rest of the year,” Brown said. “Mr. Dubb (Michael) had indicated he was looking at running her at age 6 next year, which I think is a great idea because she loves running so much. So I’d give her a break after that.”

Brown said the earlier part of the day resulted in some disappointments, but that he was proud of the way his horses ran even in defeat.

“Call Provision ran dynamite,” Brown said. “Carina Mia was a little disappointing, she couldn’t hold off that other horse. It was frustrating, but both horses got clean trips and were just second-best today, so I can’t really complain.”