Trainer Chad Brown, seen here with his trophy for Zagora in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf has a strong group headed to this year’s Breeders’ Cup. (Photo credit: Breeders’ Cup Ltd.)
Saturday was a busy day for trainer Chad Brown’s Breeders’ Cup contingent, with 11 potential starters working at Belmont Park.
Grand Jete, the winner of the Grade 3 Eatontown and runner-up finisher in the Grade 1 Beverly D., breezed four furlongs in 49.67 seconds on the inner turf in company with Irish-bred Roca Rojo. Grand Jete is one of three possible starters for Brown in the Grade 1, $2 million Filly & Mare Turf on November 4 at Del Mar. The 4-year-old English bred has been at Belmont since September and is coming off a third-place effort last out in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on October 8, where she held the lead into the final sixteenth before being overtaken by stablemate Dacita for second and War Flag, the winner.
“They did terrific. They worked half a mile very sharp,” Brown said. “They looked good.”
Dacita, a multiple graded stakes winner, breezed four furlongs in 50.02 seconds on the main track in preparation for the Filly & Mare Turf. The 6-year-old, who Brown has consistently breezed on dirt, has finished in the money in eight of her 11 starts since arriving in North America in 2015, notching four wins against graded stakes company.
Lady Eli, Browns’ third potential starter in the 1 1/8-mile route, was clocked going 1:00.09 for five furlongs on the inner turf in company with Elysea’s World. Lady Eli, who was second to Queen’s Trust in last year’s Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita, will return to California with three straight graded stakes wins on her ledger, finding the winner’s circle in the Grade 1 Gamely, Grade 1 Diana and Grade 2 Ballston Spa.
“They worked terrific,” Brown said. “They breezed again together for the second week in a row. They breezed perfect.”
Beach Patrol and Fanciful Angel again worked in company for the second time in six days, going five furlongs in 1:02.23 on the inner turf. The duo, who finished 1-2 in both the Grade 1 Arlington Million and the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, are pointed towards in the Grade 1, $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf on November 4.
Practical Joke, a possibility for the Grade 1, $1 million Las Vegas Dirt Mile on November 3, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.87 in company with Business Cycle on Big Sandy. Practical Joke, who ran third in the Grade 1 Haskell before capturing the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on August 26 at the Spa, is undefeated in one-turn races and could also be entered in the Grade 1, $1.5 million TwinSpires Sprint on November 4 instead of the two-turn Dirt Mile.
Significant Form also breezed five furlongs on the inner turf, going 59.76 seconds in company with Rymska in preparing for the Grade 1, $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 3. Significant Form rebounded from a seventh-place finish in her debut to win the Miss Grillo on October 1 at Belmont.
“A touch quick but they did it the right way, so I thought they were good,” Brown said.
Voting Control, a possibility for the Grade 1, $1 million Juvenile Turf on November 3, breezed four furlongs in 50.57 seconds on the main track, going in company with Bricks and Mortar.
Paulassilverlining, targeted for the Grade 1, $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint on November 4, worked five furlongs in 1:01.09 on the main track, going in company with Jamyson ‘n Ginger.
“She worked terrific,” Brown said. “It was just more of the same from her. She’s been working well.”
Early in the morning, Good Magic, pointing towards the Grade 1, $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 4, worked a half-mile in 50.91 seconds in company with Allured on the main track.
Carina Mia also breezed on the main track, going four furlongs in 48.78 seconds as she readies for the Grade 1, $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint on November 4.
Michael’s Breeders’ Cup Reports includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for every race for the Breeders’ Cup from Del Mar on Nov. 3-4.
The Breeders’ Cup offers 13 championship races over two days, bringing together the best top horses, trainers, and jockeys from around the world, this year to compete at Del Mar.
