Program Trading possible for Hollywood Derby, Pegasus Turf

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - There is very little time to rest on one's laurels, or to rest at all, in the horse racing business. Just ask trainer Chad Brown, who was back in the barn Sunday morning, less than 12 hours after winning the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational on Saturday with the lightly raced Program Trading, to work more than 70 horses before finally escaping to his office for a very brief respite.

“He came out of the race in good shape,” Brown said, following the busiest work morning of the season on Sunday. “I was real proud of him. He showed a lot of heart. He handled the ground and distance well.”

Program Trading entered the Saratoga Derby with just two previous starts, both victories, on his resume, but performed like an old pro, rating kindly on the lead then fighting back gamely after being headed by the vastly more experienced and accomplished Webslinger nearing midstretch to stick his head back in front again at the wire.

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“I wasn’t saying with any certainty he was going to win the race, but I certainly wasn’t surprised he did despite his lack of experience, we quite liked the horse,” Brown said. “At the eighth pole I said to myself ‘we’ll see how good he is now having to come back on the inside being so inexperienced,’ and he more than impressed me when he did. Especially since he was on the part of the course that I was hearing was the softest from the jockeys. Which is good because now I know he handled it well for down the road.”

What Brown’s plans are down the road for Program Trading, who earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure for his performance, remain uncertain.

“I’m not sure I really want to run him in the last race of this series, which is a three-turn race at Aqueduct,” Brown said, referring to the $500,000 Jockey Club Derby going 1 3/8 miles at Aqueduct on Oct. 8. “Way down the road the Hollywood Derby is potentially a nice race for him. I might give him a little breather now and one prep for that race. The Pegasus (Turf) is also something we might think about, too.”

Trainer Mark Casse was equally proud of the effort Webslinger turned in despite the disappointment of having to settle for second money in the Saratoga Derby. Webslinger matched his lifetime top Beyer, 94, earned for his game nose victory over Far Bridge in the Grade 2 American Derby earlier this season at Churchill Downs.

“He had a bit of a wide trip and such, had a few things against him,” Casse said. “He ran hard, had the opportunity to win, the other horse was just better. When the dust clears, his (sheet) numbers are going to be far superior to the winner, but that doesn’t win any money.”

“I’m not sure what we’ll do next, I may take him to Kentucky Downs for the Dueling Grounds Derby ($750,000, Grade 3 on Sept. 3,) we’ll just wait and see,” Casse said.

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