Litfin's preview: Brown on way to third straight title

After sending out two more winners to start the week on Wednesday, Chad Brown is closing in on a third consecutive fall training title at Belmont Park.

Brown sent out Breach of Duty ($8.10) and Clearbrook ($7.20) in the middle legs of the early pick four, and opened an 18-13 lead on David Jacobson, with whom he tied for the 2012 fall crown with 21 winners before winning it outright with 26 winners last year.

Clearbrook was the 14th grass winner at the session for Brown, who has three horses entered on Thursday but seems likely to start only Thundering Gale (3rd race), who is being doubled in price after a big win over $25,000 restricted claimers in her second start off the claim.

Brown’s other entrants are R Y Squadron (6th race), a first-time starter buried deep on the also-eligible list, and Cousin Stephen (8th), who is a main track only.

“OTHER" BROWN LOOKS LIVE

While Chad Brown’s average win mutuel is lowest on the leader board at slightly over 2-1, Bruce Brown’s five winners have averaged a $13 win price.

The “other” Brown has five horses sprinkled throughout Thursday’s program, beginning with Whateveryouwant, the second choice in the opener at 3-1 on the morning line.

Brown also sends out logical contenders Dreaming of Danny (5th, 3-1) and The Frood Due (9th, 4-1), as well as the longshot Ah Gaga (7th, 20-1), who was claimed from both her starts at Saratoga, and returns to the scene of both her victories, at odds of 12-1 each time.

ORTIZ WINS 4 TO JOIN JOCKEY RACE

Javier Castellano clings to a 27-25 lead in the rider standings, but Irad Ortiz Jr. closed a ton of ground with a four-bagger Wednesday, and vaulted past his brother Jose (21 wins) into third place with 24 victories.

Ortiz took the last three legs of the early pick four with the aforementioned winners for Chad Brown and Amber Morning (5th, $6.70), and capped off the big day with a rocking-chair ride on Bay of the Plenty ($3.40).

Bay of Plenty had been sidelined since big wins in maiden and first-level allowance company in early spring, and the 3-year-old colt by Medaglia d’Oro was eased up late to get through the secondary allowance ranks on Wednesday.

PICK SIX CARRYOVER

Thanks mainly to 22-1 Regal Minister and 8-1 Mobridge, no one hit the pick six on Wednesday.

There is a carryover of $14,262 into Thursday, beginning with race 4 at 2:23 p.m. Eastern.

JOES BLAZING AARON ONE TO CATCH

Joes Blazing Aaron has won three of his last four starts, all in front-running fashion, so there is no secret to the 6-year-old gelding’s tactics in the $80,000 optional claiming feature on Thursday, carded as race 8.

With the Maryland-based Page McKenney an early scratch, there is little other early speed among five others entered for turf, and Angel Arroyo will look to become the fourth different rider to take Joes Blazing Aaron all the way, joining Edgar Prado in May at Gulfstream Park, Javier Castellano on opening day at Saratoga, and John Velazquez on Day 2 of the Belmont fall meet.

Arctic North and Red Vine, who gave futile chase on Sept. 6, are back for another try.

The lone 3-year-old in for grass is Can’thelpbelieving, who comes off a mild rally for third as the second choice in the $230,000 Dueling Grounds Derby at the five-day Kentucky Downs meet.

HORSES TO WATCH

COEXIST

Trainer: John Kimmel
Last race: Oct. 5, 4th
Finish: 2nd by 2 3/4
Beyer: 69

Returned from a seven-month layoff making his first start as a gelding. He rallied to the lead between calls in deep stretch and held willingly in a useful effort.