Stone Age likely to end layoff with Sword Dancer
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Stone Age, the runner-up in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf when trained by Aidan O’Brien, had his fifth workout Sunday for trainer Chad Brown, who is likely to bring him back off a six-month layoff in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga.
Stone Age worked five furlongs on Sunday in 1:01.85 over the Oklahoma turf course in company with Beaute Cachee.
Brown said while he may have Stone Age only 80 percent ready to fire his best, running in the Sword Dancer may be the right move.
“It may just be that it’s better to run this horse,” Brown said. “That’ll set me up for the [Joe Hirsch on Sept. 30] and the Breeders’ Cup, rather than navigate through weather, training, Belmont reconstruction.”
Despite running some very good races in Group or Grade 1 company, Stone Age is only 2 for 15 and has not won since taking the Group 3 Derby Trial at Leopardstown in May 2022.
Others expected for the Sword Dancer include Bolshoi Ballet, Channel Maker, Daunt, Soldier Rising, and Verstappen.
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