Good things expected from Elysea's World
ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown has an extremely deep roster of older filly and mare turf horses. On Wednesday, he’ll get an idea of how deep a bench he has in his 3-year-old filly turf division when Elysea’s World makes her first start for Brown in a first-level allowance at Belmont Park.
After several days of inclement weather that forced many races off the grass over the weekend, the New York area is in for a stretch of dry weather this week that should allow for all four of Wednesday’s scheduled turf races to remain on that surface.
Elysea’s World, a daughter of Champs Elysees, won her only start, a seven-furlong race at Chantilly last June. She was purchased privately by a group led by Sol Kumin’s Sheep Pond Partners and which includes NFL player Vince Wilfork, and was shipped to the U.S. to Brown.
Elysea’s World worked once at Saratoga last summer but developed a physical problem that forced Brown to stop on her. She resumed training this winter at Palm Meadows and shows a string of six works leading up to her debut.
“She always trained with a ton of ability,” Brown said. “She’s been working nicely; all of her works have been very, very good. She’ll have to overcome a layoff and first time running in this country and first time running this far. She’s got a lot of things to overcome, but she does have the talent to have a good career over here. Hopefully, she can fire the first time.”
Javier Castellano rides Elysea’s World from post 6.
Brown also will run Grey Stark, a 3-year-old daughter of Tapit who won her second start, an off-the-turf race last September here. She has not run since.
“She was a filly we really liked last year,” Brown said. “She had a problem and had to go to the sidelines. She’s been back training well.”
KEY CONTENDERS
Elysea’s World, by Champs Elysees
◗ Makes her first start in 11 months for a trainer who does well off the bench and with horses making their first start in this country.
◗ Three of the eight rivals she beat in her debut came back to win a maiden race. Pleasemetoo, third in that June 19 maiden race, finished second in a Group 2 in France.
Finn’s Girl, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 72-72-70
◗ Finished third behind Harmonize and Thrilled in last summer’s P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga after winning her debut at Delaware Park.
◗ In her lone start this year, she finished sixth in a first-level allowance. She was checked and lost position early down the backside and was in traffic around the turn and in the stretch.
My Good Venezuela, by Wildcat Heir
Last 3 Beyers: 70-71-70
◗ Improved vastly with the switch to turf and brings a two-race winning streak into this tougher race.
◗ Goes first off the claim for trainer Carol Fisher.