Quick Broadway return shouldn't bother Sweet Brown Sugar
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OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Coming off a solid 3-year-old campaign in which she won 5 of 9 starts, the New York-bred Sweet Brown Sugar appeared to take a step forward when she won her 4-year-old debut against open company at Aqueduct by 1 3/4 lengths on Feb. 6.
Sunday, Sweet Brown Sugar returns to statebred company but does so in a competitive renewal of the $125,000 Broadway Stakes going seven furlongs at Aqueduct.
The Broadway drew 11 but could easily scratch down to eight. Bon Adieu, Bernietakescharge, and Catchphrase were all entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Heavenly Prize. The connections of Bernietakescharge and Bon Adieu appeared to be leaning toward that race. Catchphrase was expected to scratch from both races.
Sweet Brown Sugar, a daughter of Collected trained by Paul Barrow, has won 8 of 12 career starts, including her last three runs at Aqueduct. In a two-week span last March here, Sweet Brown Sugar won an allowance race and the East View Stakes, both by four or more lengths. That success, as well as Sweet Brown Sugar winning her first two career starts in a 19-day span in fall 2023, alleviates Barrow’s concern about wheeling Sweet Brown Sugar back in 17 days in the Broadway.
“You’re always a little nervous running back on short rest, but she’s shown in the past that doesn’t bother her too much,” Barrow said. “We’ll give her a try. She came out of that allowance race great. She hasn’t missed a beat. I’m confident she’ll show up and run her race.”
Despite the expected defections, there still appears to be ample speed in the Broadway, which should help Sweet Brown Sugar, who likes to stalk the pace. She does have to carry co-highweight of 124 pounds along with Landed, Caldwell Luvs Gold, and Cara’s Time.
Lane Luzzi rides Sweet Brown Sugar.
Landed, trained by Wesley Ward, will likely go favored in what will be her first start since Oct. 23 when third in an open allowance at Keeneland. Prior to that, Landed won three straight races, including the seven-furlong Bouwerie Stakes and the 1 1/8-mile Fleet Indian.
Caldwell Luvs Gold finished second to Landed in the Bouwerie and beat Sweet Brown Sugar in the New York Oaks at Finger Lakes last summer. She has spotty form but is coming off a fourth-place finish in the five-horse Interborough. Caldwell Luvs Gold may be ready to cycle back to a good race.
“She seems like her form seems to bounce back and forth,” said Dustin Dugas, assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “She seems like she’s doing pretty well going into this race. Love the seven-eighths and with the speed that should play out in front of her hopefully we’ll have something to run into.”
My Magic Wand has won three in a row and makes her stakes debut for Gregg Sacco. She looks like part of the pace along with Landed and Speightful Lily.
Tough Street is back with New York-breds after running second to Ain’t Broke in a high-class allowance here Dec. 29. Snappin Buttons completes the field.
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