Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Brown starts filling in calendar
ELMONT, N.Y. – He may not have had a presence in the Belmont Stakes itself, but trainer Chad Brown dominated the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
Brown won 7 of the 18 stakes at Belmont Park from Thursday to Saturday, highlighted by brilliant performances Saturday from Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 1 Manhattan, Rushing Fall in the Grade 1 Just a Game, and Guarana in the Grade 1 Acorn.
On Friday, Brown won the Grade 2 New York with Homerique and the Grade 3 Bed o’ Roses with Separationofpowers. On Thursday, Brown won the Grade 3 Intercontinental with Significant Form and the Grade 3 Wonder Again with Cambier Parc.
Overall, Brown won nine of the 16 races at Belmont in which he had starters – 22 starters overall – over the three days.
Bricks and Mortar won his third seven-figure race of the year, adding the $1 million Manhattan to victories in the $1 million Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby Day and the $7 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on Jan. 26. He also won the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz at Fair Grounds in March.
On Saturday, Bricks and Mortar beat stablemate Robert Bruce by 1 1/2 lengths, with stablemate Raging Bull another three-quarters of a length back in third. Bricks and Mortar earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I was so impressed with his race yesterday on many levels,” Brown said of Bricks and Mortar. “He transferred his form back to firm ground, he stayed the mile and a quarter no problem. One of his best career races. He isn’t showing any fatigue for starting his year so early.”
Brown said the Arlington Million on Aug. 10 is the goal for Bricks and Mortar, Robert Bruce, and Raging Bull. The future beyond that is less certain for Bricks and Mortar, who may not fit into the mold of a Breeders’ Cup Turf (1 1/2 miles) or Breeders’ Cup Mile horse.
“I’m not going to commit to any races after the Arlington Million,” Brown said Sunday. “I’m not saying he won’t run, but I’m not going to plan anything. It gets tricky with the distances. I do not believe he’s a mile-and-ahalf horse; I could be wrong. He has run a mile, but it’s certainly not his best distance.”
Brown said he was happy to see Robert Bruce and Raging Bull rebound from disappointing efforts in their most recent starts to run well in the Manhattan.
“I think all three with their performances yesterday earned the right to run in it,” Brown said.
Plans for Olympico, who finished seventh in the Manhattan for Brown, are not set.
Rushing Fall improved her record to 8 for 9 with her 2 1/4-length victory in the Just a Game at a mile. Brown said that Rushing Fall, who earned a 102 Beyer, could join New York Stakes 1-2 finishers Homerique and Competitonofideas in the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Arlington on Aug. 10. Sistercharlie, who won that race and three other Grade 1s last year en route to being crowned female turf champion, also is possible to run in that race for Brown. She has not run yet this year but continues to train well, breezing five furlongs in 1:00.97 on Sunday over the Belmont turf.
Brown said he might even consider Rushing Fall for the Grade 1 Fourstardave against the boys going one mile at Saratoga on Aug. 10.
“It’s a possibility,” Brown said. “It’d be foolish not to consider that.”
Guarana won the Acorn by six lengths in just her second career start, beating Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress in what Brown called “one of the best performances I’ve had training horses.”
Guarana’s wins have come at 6 1/2 furlongs and a one-turn mile. Brown said Guarana reminds him of her father, Ghostzapper, who won Grade 1 races from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles for Bobby Frankel, under whom Brown mentored. Brown will talk with Three Chimneys president Goncalo Torrealba to decide whether to stretch Guarana out to 1 1/8 miles in a race like the Coaching Club American Oaks on July 20 at Saratoga or point for the Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs on Aug. 3.
“The way she won yesterday, she looks like she’ll carry her speed farther,” Brown said. “Certainly, she’d be tough cutting back as well.”
Separationofpowers, last year’s Test winner for Brown, won the Bed o’ Roses going 6 1/2 furlongs, her first win since the Test last year. Brown said he would likely point her to the Honorable Miss Handicap on July 24 as a prep for the Grade 1 Ballerina on Aug. 24.
Cambier Parc and perhaps Wonder Again runner-up Newspapaperofrecord will aim to the Grade 1, $750,000 Belmont Oaks on July 6. Plans for Significant Form are not set.