Touchdown Brown needs to be patient in Graduation Stakes
After an ideal debut win at Santa Anita in June and a month of encouraging workouts at Del Mar in July, Touchdown Brown will have his stakes debut in Sunday’s $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
The upward trajectory is not only evident in race results and quick workout times, but behind the scenes to trainer Rafael Becerra.
“Every day, he’s learning something,” he said. “In my opinion, he’s getting better every day.”
Touchdown Brown won his debut in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden special weight race by 5 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita on June 19, closing from third in a field of seven as the 3-2 favorite. On July 18, Touchdown Brown worked six furlongs in 1:13.20 at Del Mar and followed a week later with a half-mile workout from the gate in 47 seconds.
“I’ve got some nice works on him on this track and that’s a plus,” Becerra said.
Touchdown Brown is by the Pioneerof the Nile stallion Cairo Prince and races for Phil Lebherz, Alan Klein, and Edward Brown Jr.
Touchdown Brown’s running style is another asset. Becerra is hopeful jockey Evin Roman can coax a patient run from Touchdown Brown in the 5 1/2-furlong Graduation Stakes. The seven-horse field appears to have several runners with ample speed.
Good With People, Jazz Hands, and Positivity won maiden races from the front at Santa Anita or Los Alamitos in recent months. Jazz Hands led throughout a five-furlong race at Los Alamitos on June 28, drawing clear by 11 lengths.
Good With People is trained by Peter Miller, who also starts None Above the Law, who closed from sixth in a field of seven to win a $50,000 claimer for maidens in his debut at Los Alamitos on July 2.
There are two maidens in the field – the first-time starter Scooby, trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, and Rantanen, who is winless in three starts including a third behind Touchdown Brown.
Touchdown Brown drew post 3, with the speed runners Good With People and Jazz Hands in the inside stalls. A stalking trip could work in the colt’s favor.
“He needs to prove that he can do it against winners,” Becerra said. “I like his chances.”