'TDN Rising Star' Complexity (Maclean's Music), representing the same Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables axis as last year's GI Preakness S. hero Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music), handled the stretch out to a mile with aplomb Saturday, powering home a 3 1/2-length winner of Belmont's GI Champagne S. Backed as the 5-2 favorite off a 4 1/4-length debut score sprinting at the Spa Sept. 3 that earned him a solid 90 Beyer Speed Figure and that was further flattered when third finisher King for a Day (Uncle Mo) came back to graduate himself in fast time earlier this week, the $375,000 KEESEP acquisition emerged from the early scramble to take a clear advantage. He threw down the gauntlet through splits of :22.51 and :45.31, and continued into the stretch under a confident Jose Ortiz clear by several lengths.
Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) mounted an impressive, wide move after blowing the break to give a brief impression that the race wasn't over, but Complexity showed no signs of slowing and streaked home three lengths clear while earning a “Win and You're In” spot into next month's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Previously unbeaten GII Saratoga Special S. hero Call Paul (Friesan Fire) got up for third by a nose.
“We broke on top and went right to the lead, and he went fast and easy,” said Ortiz, who booted home two other Brown-trained winners on the card, including GI Beldame S. winner Wow Cat (Chi) (Lookin At Lucky); and who also rode last year's BC Juvenile winner Good Magic (Curlin) for the same barn. “I thought I was going, :23, :46 4/5, 47. I felt like I was going very easy. When I came back, I couldn't believe he went :22 and :45.”
Saturday, Belmont Park
CHAMPAGNE S.-GI, $500,000, Belmont, 10-6, 2yo, 1m, 1:34.63, ft.
1–COMPLEXITY, 122, c, 2, by Maclean's Music&log=">Maclean's Music
1st Dam: Goldfield, by Yes It's True
2nd Dam: Folly Dollar, by Digression
3rd Dam: Real Precious, by Torsion
'TDN Rising Star' 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($375,000 Ylg '17 KEESEP). O-Klaravich Stables Inc; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Chad C Brown; J-Jose L. Ortiz. $275,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $321,750. *1/2 to Valadorna (Curlin), GSW & GISP, $669,920 Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”stonestreet-double”][bullet ad=”tm-hip-1727″][bullet ad=”hillndale-consigned”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Code of Honor, 122, c, 2, Noble Mission (GB)–Reunited, by Dixie Union. ($70,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP). O/B-W S Farish (KY); T-Claude R McGaughey III. $100,000.[bullet ad=”lanes-end-bred-and-raised”]3–Call Paul, 122, c, 2, Friesan Fire–Avani Force, by Forestry. ($20,000 Ylg '17 EASOCT; $210,000 2yo '18 EASMAY). O-Michael Dubb, David Simon, Bethlehem Stables LLC & Bruce Irom; B-Beatrice Patterson & Vicky Schowe (PA); T-Jason Servis. $60,000.[bullet ad=”grassroots-training-sales”]Margins: 3, 3, NO. Odds: 2.50, 14.00, 6.70.
Also Ran: Aurelius Maximus, Trophy Chaser, Endorsed, Casa Creed, Listing, Successful Zip, Achilles Warrior.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
It was just another day at the office for Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who also took Keeneland's GI First Lady S. with A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and unveiled new 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) earlier on the Belmont card.
“The horse ran outstanding, just a remarkable talent,” said Brown, who also took the 2016 Champagne with Klaravich and Bill Lawrence's Practical Joke (Into Mischief). “To carry those fractions all the way through the mile was impressive. Jose came back and with his report and said, 'Boss, I thought I was going 47 and change, that's how easy he was moving.' He had enough to kick on.”
As for what's next: “Obviously, we're going to the Breeders' Cup if he comes back sound and healthy. We'll try and run two turns, which will be another question mark. It's another sixteenth of a mile, but he's a class horse. Jose gets along with him well, and hopefully he'll get a good trip in that race.”
Pedigree Notes:
Complexity is the third graded winner and second Grade I winner for Maclean's Music. His dam, a daughter of SW/GSP Folly Dollar and a half to Grade II winner Springside (Awesome Again), was bred by Stonestreet, but never made the races. Among her prior produce is 'TDN Rising Star' and GSW Valadorna (Curlin), who was a close second in the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and who was fifth in Saturday's First Lady. Goldfield's yearling filly by Astrology was a $260,000 Keeneland September buy by agent Steve Young. She produced a Curlin filly Apr. 23 and was bred back to Pioneerof the Nile.
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