Harness: Brown prepping his crew for Sire Stakes and Grand Circuit action

Trainer Brian Brown was hard at work last week as Ohio harness racing moved with swift fashion to get as many horses as possible qualified in advance of tracks re-opening for business. For Brown, who has an abundance of horses with Ohio roots, the current timing is crucial towards having horses ready for stakes action that begins almost immediately.

"They've got Sire Stakes for 3-year-old colts and fillies at Northfield on June 6," said Brown. "I'd like to get a qualifier into them and maybe an overnight." The logistics at this point in time will likely leave many trainers with schedules that need to be modified. Fortunately for Brown, who bases his operation out of the Delaware County Fairgrounds, the track opened for qualifiers last week, although everything didn't go exactly as planned either. "We had about 4 inches of rain overnight and we had to cancel," said Brown of an initial delay on May 19 that would only cost the horses two days of action, since those qualifiers were rescheduled for May 21.

Brown didn't appear concerned about missing a few days since he’s taken a different approach than some trainers during the stoppage of racing. "My horses were kept active and I would train them between 2:10-2:15 every other week," said Brown, who wanted to have his horses ready once states were given the word to go forward.

Brown has a diverse group of horses of all ages that are preparing to race both nationally and locally, and he’s hopeful that 2020 will be the year that perhaps one mystery will be solved. The 4-year-old Workin Ona Mystery, a son of Captaintreacherous, has shown brilliant talent in limited appearances throughout his juvenile and sophomore campaigns. Last year he made just 11 starts, with his final outing, a 1:48 1/5 victory at The Red Mile, somewhat bittersweet. "We had issues with his white blood count throughout the year," said Brown. "When we brought him back in the fall, he raced very well at Hoosier in the Jenna’s Beach Boy and then won at The Red Mile, but he got sick on us again."

The lament of a 3-year-old season is tough on the trainer and can cloud the reputation horses' gain with the public unaware of the whys of a season. Just looking back on Workin Ona Mystery’s third-place finishes in the finals of the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace, it is hard not to glean what might have been had the trips been easier. In each of those critical sophomore contests, Workin Ona Mystery was parked to the half in 52 4/5, a fraction that softened him up ever so slightly and could have turned wins into those third-place finishes.

"He’s been training back great," said Brown. "We had planned to give him time off after last year and bring him back in June."

The Graduate, which was supposed to begin May 2 at The Meadowlands but will have a first leg on June 14 at Tioga, is on Workin Ona Mystery’s schedule, and that could mean a reengagement with division leader Bettor’s Wish, if Brown elects to enter the opening leg. "I'm going to try to qualify him Friday or Saturday (May 29/30) and again the following week before deciding where to go."

Brown also confirmed that Proof is on the comeback trail after a long absence. The son of A Rocknroll Dance scored impressively in a 1:48 1/5 clocking in the Hempt eliminations last June at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono but finished sixth as the heavy favorite in the final before his sophomore season was wiped out. Unfortunately, he was below par in his first qualifier, making a first-over move early in the mile before fading badly. "He was very dehydrated," said Brown about the 4-year-old after the race. "He seems fine now (May 25). I’m going to train him tomorrow and then fast on Friday. That should tell me if he is ok."

Brown is usually loaded with 3-year-olds for Grand Circuit action and he didn't shy away from considering a few likely candidates, but at the same time, stated what is obvious. "I have a lot of nice 3-year-olds that are non-winners of 2 and non-winners of 3 at the moment," said Brown.

That’s where the problems begin, not just for Brown but for so many trainers that condition horses that need some races before stakes action. They may be thrust into battle early because of an evolving schedule. “I really need to find tracks where I can race some of these horses. It would be great if The Meadows were to open.”

Clearly Brown would like to have a place to see his sophomore Seeyou At Thebeach get a chance to get some prep races in. The son of Somebeachsomewhere finished fourth in last year’s Metro Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park but enters the 2020 season with just two pari-mutuel victories. “He’s eligible for non-winners of 3 if we can find a race or two for him,” said Brown. Seeyou At Thebeach was solid with a 1:56 first qualifier on May 21.

Fortify, eligible for non-winners of 2 company, made his sophomore qualifying debut in style with a swift 1:55 mile as well. A 1:50 3/5 Kentucky Sire Stakes leg winner in 2019, Fortify is a son of Sweet Lou and first foal from a sister to the dam of Always B Miki. "He's a nice colt that has come back better than last year," said Brown of Fortify.

Brown started the winter with 40 babies to train and confirms that about 35 are still on course for the coming season. Four years ago he was preparing Downbytheseaside for his first season at the track and that son of Somebeachsomewhere would go on to become the second richest male horse to date from that sire, with more than $2.1 million in career earnings. This year Brown has three sons of the late-stallion that he believes are on track for stakes action in 2020. "I really like Six Degrees," said Brown. "I couldn't get him to do very much before we gelded him in December, but since then he’s shown a lot of potential." A $110K yearling at last year’s Harrisburg Sale, Six Degrees may be a bit different from your typical colt by the sire. "He's on the smaller side but covers a lot of ground," said Brown.

The Legend Hanover, a $35,000 purchase at Harrisburg, appears to be heading in the right direction. Brown considers Bayfield Beach, another son of the late stallion, as a horse that may need time. "I think he’s a big horse that is going to find his speed a little later," said Brown. Bayfield Beach was a $105K yearling purchase with a pedigree that has seven full brothers and sisters, including the sub-1:50 standouts Melmerby Beach and Lawrencetown Beach.

On the filly front, Brown has a daughter of first-crop sire Always B Miki that he’s extremely fond of.

As with most horsemen, Brown knows what he can control, and that’s the health and conditioning of his horses. You can expect them to be ready for battle when more states open fully.