Plans in flux for Separationofpowers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown would ultimately like to stretch Separationofpowers out in distance. But given her performance winning Saturday’s Grade 1 Test Stakes, the two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer isn’t sure if the time is now to do that.

“This filly could be a real contender for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint the way she ran” Saturday, Brown said. “I need to consider that a target, and if I do, I have to consider how much I want to stretch her out before that.”

The Grade 1 Ballerina is run at seven furlongs – the same distance as the Test and the Filly and Mare Sprint – but is against older fillies and mares and comes back in just three weeks.

“That race was a hard race,” Brown said of the Test. “My instinct is to give her some recovery time and then think about what I want to do next.”

If Brown elects to stretch Separationofpowers out in distance, the options include the Grade 1 Cotillion at 1 1/16-miles on Sept. 22 at Parx Racing, where she would meet Monomoy Girl. There also is the Grade 1 Beldame, a one-turn, 1 1/8-mile race Oct. 6 at Belmont.

Separationofpowers earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure for her head victory over Mia Mischief in the Test.

Steve Asmussen said Mia Mischief would likely cut back in distance for the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress at six furlongs here Sept. 2.