Team Brown tough on green
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Chad Brown has vaulted to the top of the Saratoga trainers’ standings primarily on the strength of his turf division, which through Wednesday had been responsible for 21 of his meet-leading 30 victories.
Those talented turf runners will be on display again Saturday at Saratoga when Brown runs a trio of contenders in the Grade 3, $300,000 Saranac Stakes for 3-year-olds and two in the Grade 3, $200,000 Glens Falls Stakes for fillies and mares. The Saranac will be run at 1 1/8 miles and the Glens Falls at 1 3/8 miles.
The Saranac and Glens Falls bookend a quartet of stakes on Saturday’s 12-race card, which also includes two Grade 1 fixtures – the Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies and the Woodward for 3-year-olds and up.
:: DRF Live: Watch live handicapping analysis of Saturday’s Saratoga card starting at 4 p.m. Eastern
In the Saranac, Brown sends out Takeover Target and Winter Springs, the first- and sixth-place finishers from the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Stakes, and Money Multiplier, the runner-up in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes at Delaware Park.
In the Saranac, the Brown-trained Goldy Espony will seek her fourth consecutive victory, while Regardez will step into stakes company after winning an allowance race last out.
Takeover Target had a dream trip in the Hall of Fame, saving ground under Irad Ortiz Jr. until the three-sixteenths pole. He tipped four wide and closed powerfully to get the win.
“He was impressive given the [slow] pace,” Brown said. “He seems pretty versatile. He’s got a good kick to him.”
Winter Springs could move forward off the Hall of Fame, which was his first start in the U.S. Money Multiplier made his turf debut in the Kent Stakes and meets better here.
SARANAC Stakes (race 8)
KEY CONTENDERS
Takeover Target (Last 3 Beyers: 90-84-86)
◗ If you discount the 1 1/4-mile Belmont Derby, where he finished fifth, Takeover Target is a neck away from being undefeated. His only loss besides the Belmont Derby came by a neck to Divisidero in the Pennine Ridge at Belmont, where Irad Ortiz Jr. gave him a bit of an overconfident ride.
World Approval (Last 3 Beyers: 85-86-83)
◗ The winner of the Grade 3 American Derby at Arlington Park in July, he had a magical mystery tour when finishing fourth, beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Takeover Target, in the Hall of Fame. Inside and next to last early under Jose Lezcano, World Approval made a strong, wide middle move and flattened out late.
◗ Gets a rider switch to Joel Rosario.
Nonna’s Boy (Last 3 Beyers: 86-86-85)
◗ In his turf debut, he went gate to wire under Chris DeCarlo to win the Lamplighter at Monmouth Park. Looms as the likely pacesetter in this spot.
“The key to him is how much he relaxes early,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He can be a little bit of a keen horse, a little headstrong. Going a mile and an eighth, I would be surprised if anyone were in front of him early on. Hopefully, he can turn off a little bit, settle, and kick on.”
Glens Falls Stakes (race 11)
KEY CONTENDERS
Goldy Espony (Last 3 Beyers: 93-92-85)
◗ She is undefeated in three starts this year, with all three wins coming in front-running fashion, including a 3 1/4-length score in the Grade 3 Waya over this course Aug. 8.
“Overall, she’s doing better physically than she was last year,” Brown said. “We gave her a break, she came back bigger and stronger. Getting her going longer and more forwardly placed has helped her.”
◗ She may have to spar with Ceisteach, the Robert G. Dick Memorial winner, on the lead on Saturday. Kendrick Carmouche rides.
“We’ll let Kendrick figure it out,” Brown said.
Regardez (Last 3 Beyers: 90-80-82)
◗ Comes off an allowance win going 1 3/16 miles on Aug. 12, one of the few days this turf course wasn’t labeled firm.
“I think she’ll stay this far,” Brown said. “Given how dry it is, I’m not sure firm ground will be for her, but it seemed like a decent spot to take a chance with her to see if she’ll go this far. I thought her last race was impressive.”
Eastern Belle (Last 3 Beyers: 87-91-88)
◗ Comes off a trio of second-place finishes in the Keertana at Churchill, the Grade 2 New York at Belmont, and Grade 3 Waya here.
◗ Would benefit from a contested pace between Ceisteach and Goldy Espony.