Technical Analysis tops 1-2-3 sweep for Brown in Athenia

Having won the race six of the last seven years and seven times overall, and with three of the eight starters in the field, odds were trainer Chad Brown was going to come out on top once again in Friday’s $150,000 Athenia Stakes at Aqueduct.

Brown did not disappoint, not only sending out Technical Analysis to a popular, 1 1/4-length victory but adding a punctuation mark by sweeping the top three placings in the filly-and-mare turf fixture with his Beaute Cachee finishing second and her stablemate Fluffy Socks a late-running third.

The Athenia was originally on the calendar to be run last Saturday, but was not carded that day due to a forecast of rain.

Technical Analysis, a three-time graded stakes winner and the 8-5 favorite, also gave her regular rider Jose Ortiz his fourth victory on the card.

:: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets.

Technical Analysis has always been at her best when on the lead. The chances of her being able to control the pace in the nine-furlong Athenia were enhanced by the scratch of Miss Dracarys earlier in the day. Her trainer, Neil Drysdale, said he was “looking for a different spot” when explaining the decision to withdraw the speedy Grade 2 winner from the event.

With Miss Dracarys back in her stall, Ortiz had little trouble getting Technical Analysis to the front, where she was stalked from the outset by the 33-1 Uncorked. Miss Dracarys shook off a bid from Uncorked around the second bend, repulsed a try by Beaute Cachee to her inside when sharply roused through mid-stretch, and won going away.

Beaute Cache raced in perfect striking position while saving ground from the outset, ranged up inside the leader to challenge upon settling into the stretch, but proved no match while holding safe Fluffy Socks by a half-length to be second best.

The win was the eighth in the 16th and likely final start for Technical Analysis, a 5-year-old daughter of Kingman owned by Klaravich Stables Inc., as the mare is headed for the Keeneland November sale. The victory swelled her lifetime earnings over the magic $ 1 million mark to $1,059,043.

Technical Analysis completed the distance over a firm course in 1:49.20 and paid $5.40.

“It’s nice to see her go out a winner. I’m so proud of her career. She’s been such a durable horse since the day we bought her as a yearling until now,” said Brown. “She’s a very dependable horse, the type that any trainer really wants in the barn. I’ll miss her.

Brown lauded NYRA for rescheduling the race rather than having run it over what would have been soft ground last weekend.

“I want to thank NYRA for rescheduling the race and putting it on good ground,” Brown noted. “It’s been challenging all the way through Saratoga and into the fall, and for them to move some of these races to a day with a good, safe, and relatively firm course is best for all."

Brown was also pleased by the efforts of both Beaute Cachee and Fluffy Socks in defeat.

“They ran well," said Brown. "With the speed horse [Miss Dracarys] scratching, it didn’t help Fluffy Socks, who would have had a good chance to win. But it did help Technical Analysis get loose. All three ran terrific.”

Brown said he would consider bringing both Beaute Cachee and Fluffy Socks back in the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 1.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.