Miles D still playing catch-up as Travers longshot
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Though trainer Chad Brown participated in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness this spring, an argument could be made that the best 3-year-old in his barn was still a maiden when those races were being run.
An injury suffered last fall prevented Miles D from making it onto the Triple Crown trail. But the son of Curlin has shown enough in just two starts this year for Brown to take a swing at Saratoga’s biggest prize, Saturday’s Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes.
With only one win from three starts, Miles D will be the least accomplished and least experienced of the seven runners expected to be entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Mid-Summer Derby. There is plenty of upside for a colt who on June 12 won a one-mile maiden race at Belmont and who on July 30 finished second to Dynamic One in the Curlin Stakes.
“He’s an improving horse,” Brown said. “I thought his race in the Curlin was a big step forward. I thought he finished the race strong, he galloped out really well. He got beat by a nice horse that has more experience than him. Not making excuses, but it was his first time two turns. I could see that horse moving forward.
“If he’s good enough for this level of race, it remains to be seen, but he’s a well-bred progressive horse. In a short field, it’s hard to sit out. We’ll take our shot.”
Miles D, is not only a son of Curlin but his dam, the unraced Sound the Trumpets, is a half-sister to the champion filly Storm Flag Flying. Miles D is owned by Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta.
Miles D debuted last Oct. 11 at Belmont Park in a seven-furlong race. He finished fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Speaker’s Corner. The race has since produced stakes winners Greatest Honour, Caddo River, Original, and Bourbonic.
Speaker’s Corner, absent for 10 months after that win, won a first-level allowance race here on Aug. 14. and is heading to the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25.
Miles D emerged from the October race with a fractured shin, Brown said. No surgery, only time was needed for the horse to recover. He returned on June 12 to win a one-mile maiden race by 2 1/4 lengths. In the Curlin, he was second-to-last early and came with a run, finishing 1 3/4 lengths behind Dynamic One, but seven lengths clear of third-place finisher First Captain, who was previously undefeated.
Brown, who ran Highly Motivated in the Kentucky Derby, and Crowded Trade and Risk Taking in the Preakness, said going back to last summer he felt Miles D “was one of our best hopes to get on the Triple Crown trail.”
“Unfortunately, his campaign was derailed because of that injury,” he said. “He’s back, healthy, doing well. Hopefully, we can make up for lost time.”
Flavien Prat, who is 11 for 26 in his career on Brown-trained runners, will be in from California to ride.
Brown, from nearby Mechanicville, N.Y., has always coveted the Travers. He is winless with 11 starters in seven runnings, though eight of his runners went off at odds of 10-1 or higher.
Miles D could be the second-longest shot on the board in a field that will be topped by Essential Quality, last year’s 2-year-old champion who this year has won the Belmont Stakes, Jim Dandy, Blue Grass, and Southwest. His one loss was a fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
Keepmeinmind and Masqueparade, second and third, respectively, to Essential Quality in the Jim Dandy, headline the competition. Dynamic One, Midnight Bourbon, and King Fury are also expected to run.
The draw for post positions in the Travers will take place Wednesday morning at the Whitney Pavilion at around 10:45 a.m.
There are five other Grade 1 stakes on Saturday’s card, four of which are expected to have reigning Eclipse Award winners in them:
◗ Letruska, the leader of the older female division, will take on Swiss Skydiver, the 2020 3-year-old filly champion, in the Grade 1, $600,000 Personal Ensign.
Also expected are Bonny South, Dunbar Road, Graceful Princess, Harvey’s Lil Goil, Miss Marissa, and Royal Flag.
◗ Sprint champion Whitmore, 0 for 4 this year, won the Grade 1 Forego in 2018. He will try for a second victory in the race Saturday when he is expected to meet Lexitonian, who beat Whitmore in the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt July 31, as well as Chance It, Double Blessed, Mind Control, Mischevious Alex, and Yaupon.
◗ Channel Maker won last year’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer en route to earning the male turf championship. He will start in the $750,000 turf race Saturday against the likes of Cross Border, Gufo, Japan, Rockemperor, and Tribhuvan.
◗ Gamine, last year’s Grade 1 Test winner and female sprint champion, tops the expected field in the Grade 1 Ballerina against Ce Ce, Estilo Talentoso, Lake Avenue, Sconsin, and Truth Hurts.
◗ Jackie’s Warrior, last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful winner, takes on the undefeated Life Is Good, who is returning from a March injury that knocked him off the Triple Crown trail, in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens. Drain the Clock, Judge N Jury, and perhaps Following Sea are others expected to run.
◗ Brown is expected to run the trio of Kalifornia Queen, Tamahere, and Viadera in the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa. High Opinion is also probable.