A jolly good day for Chad Brown at Saratoga
Mechanicville trainer Chad Brown saw his Great Britianbred Flintshire trail throughout Saturday's Sword Dancer stakes before taking over the field and winning the Grade I Stakes race at Saratoga.
SARATOGA SPRINGS >> Sitting off the pace after a mile-plus of racing was nothing new for Flintshire.
In fact, the Chad Browntrained horse sat off the pace early on in each of his last two races — both victories — heading into Saturday’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes. So when Javier Castellano and Flintshire sat in fifth after 1 1/4 miles, there was no panicking. Castellano was exactly where he wanted to have the Great Britain-bred horse.
Castellano made a nice inside move along the turn for home to catch the leaders and take a 1 1/2-length lead into the stretch. From there, the race was over. Flintshire stormed to the finish to win the 1 1/2mile race on the turf by 1 3/4 lengths, finishing in 2:23.45.
Money Multiplier finished second and Twilight Eclipse took third.
“I am very lucky and fortunate,” Castellano said. “The way I rode this horse (I tried) to save some ground. Everyone ended up in the same position and I had to make my own decision and use my best judgement, and it worked out. I was very lucky to go and cut through the rail and accelerate. He is a phenomenal horse. I’ve never seen any horse with that much acceleration on the grass.”
With longshot Inordinate — also trained by Brown — bursting out to the front to set the pace, the race set up exactly how Castellano wanted it. With an early pace set, and Castellano saving ground, Flintshire was able to outrun the field as they neared the finish.
“Aaron Gryder did a fabulous job as the pacesetter (aboard Inordinate),” Brown said. “Still (Flintshire) had trouble in the back. Javier decided to go on the inside and it turned out the right decision.”
Once the two leaders — Inordinate and Roman Approval — began to tire and fall back, Castellano and Flintshire capitalized. Castellano made his move along the hedge and swept in at the opportune time.
“Aaron’s horse got a little tired and with the tight corners he drifted out a little bit,” Castellano said. “I saw my best opportunity to go forward and it worked out for me today.”
When Flintshire finally broke through with a furlong to go, he left the competition in the dust. Aside from Lady Eli, Brown believes Flintshire’s turn of foot separates him from the rest.
“It’s unbelievable,” Brown said of Flintshire’s finish. “When I train this horse in the morning I have to pinch myself every day that: A I have him, and B that horses have been created like him. I’ve never seen anything like it, outside of Lady Eli in the female end of it. I’m lucky I have the both of them. The best turn of foot I’ve ever seen.” |