Pricedtoperfection leads Brown's trio for Riskaverse Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Obviously, Chad Brown doesn’t need an edge to win races this summer at Saratoga, where he enters the final two weeks of the meet comfortably ahead of perennial training champion Todd Pletcher in the standings.

But Brown will have an advantage when it comes to both quality and quantity in Thursday’s main event, the $100,000 Riskaverse Stakes, sending out three of the 10 expected starters in the one-mile turf feature for 3-year-old fillies, including likely favorite Pricedtoperfection.

Pricedtoperfection, the winner of the Grade 3 Sweetest Chant last winter at Gulfstream Park, is one of two graded stakes winners in the Riskaverse, along with Baciami Piccola. Pricedtoperfection placed in two subsequent stakes, finishing third in the Memories of Silver at Aqueduct and second in the Penn National Oaks, before trying Grade 1 opposition for the second time in her career and checking home fourth in the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Oaks last out.

“I felt this was a logical spot for her, and I think a mile suits her better,” said Brown. “Given the competition last time, I thought she ran well, but her mile races have been pretty good.”

Brown also will send out Island Reward, who was purchased privately six weeks ago, and She Doesn’t Mind, who has hit the board in each of her three U.S. starts, without a win.

“I haven’t had Island Reward long, but she seems to be training well,” said Brown. “She Doesn’t Mind has been real unlucky. I think every time she’s run, she should have won. She’s been in trouble three times in a row.”

Baciami Piccola won the Grade 3 Florida Oaks in her U.S. debut but has failed to reproduce that effort in her last three starts, including a seventh-place finish in the Grade 2 Lake George earlier at this meet.

Pletcher will counter Brown’s trio with Thrilled, who returns to turf for the first time since finishing well back following an awkward beginning in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The well-traveled Thrilled won her 3-year-old debut over the main track when registering a popular two-length decision in Sunland Park’s Plum Pretty but was a beaten favorite in both subsequent starts against Grade 3 competition at Woodbine and Prairie Meadows.

The improving On Leave has won two straight heading into her stakes debut while tying Pricedtoperfection for the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in this field, having earned an 87 while winning a one-mile allowance race at Belmont five weeks ago.

Key Contenders

Pricedtoperfection, by Temple City
Last 3 Beyers: 87-85-79

◗ She’s finished first or second in three of her four starts at a mile, the lone blemish a ninth-place finish following a wide trip behind Catch a Glimpse in the Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall at Keeneland.

Thrilled, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 65-71-88

◗ Versatile filly has placed in graded stakes on dirt, grass, and synthetic surfaces, having finished second on turf in the Grade 3 Miss Grillo and second on dirt in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at 2 and third over the synthetic track at Woodbine in the Grade 3 Selene this season.