Mackinnon transferred to Chad Brown's stable

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mackinnon, a two-time stakes winner in 2021 who has struggled in a limited campaign this year, is being transferred from trainer Doug O’Neill in California to Chad Brown in New York this week, co-owner Erik Johnson and O’Neill said over the weekend.

In a text message, Johnson cited “more turf options” on the East Coast as the “only reason behind decision.”

“Doug did a great job with him. Doug is still my trainer.”

Mackinnon was second in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February before he was rested through the remainder of the winter and early spring. In two starts at the Del Mar summer meeting that ended Sunday, Mackinnon was fourth as the even-money favorite in the Oceanside Stakes on July 22 and sixth in the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 3, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind the O’Neill-trained Slow Down Andy.

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Last year, Mackinnon won the Del Mar Juvenile Turf and Zuma Beach Stakes on turf at Santa Anita before finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last November.

Johnson co-owns Mackinnon with Madaket Stable and Dave Kenney. The colt is named for Nathan MacKinnon, Johnson’s teammate on the Colorado Avalanche, who won the NHL’s Stanley Cup in June.

O’Neill said Slow Down Andy, a three-time graded stakes winner, could have his debut against older horses in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt Oct. 1 at Santa Anita.