Trainer Chad Brown, who won his 150th Grade I race Saturday with repeat winner Whitebeam (GB) (Caravaggio) in the GI Diana Stakes, is already looking forward to the next starts for his stable's biggest runners. Of note, Gina Romantica (Into Mischief), just edged out for second in the Diana, could be headed to face the boys in the GI Fourstardave Handicap Aug. 10 along with stablemates Chili Flag (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}) and Whitebeam.
“Chili Flag and Whitebeam are certainly horses you could consider for the Fourstardave depending who is running and such,” said Brown. “Gina Romantica was only beaten a little over a length in the Breeders' Cup Mile by Master of The Seas, so I guess it's in play – we'll see.”
Another Brown-trained runner targeting the Fourstardave could be GIII Kelso Stakes winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).
“He ran terrific. I was so happy to see him come back into form. Now that I was able to observe this race yesterday and tie it into his training and his affinity for Saratoga, I have to believe that his race during Belmont Stakes week here where he didn't fire must have been a bit of a hangover from that challenging trip off a layoff at Churchill.”
Another 'Rising Star' for Brown, Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) continued preparations over the weekend for the GII Jim Dandy Stakes with a solo half-mile work over the Oklahoma training track in :48 2/5.
“It was more of the same,” said Brown of Sierra Leone. “I'm liking what I'm seeing. He worked super – very similar to his last couple of works and he galloped out with a lot of energy. I couldn't be happier with the way he's moving. In observing the horse as he's changed and matured with more races under his belt, I wanted to change a couple things about my approach with him – minor changes – and that [working solo] was one of them. I wanted to see how he reacted to it and I'm very pleased with how it's going.”
Sierra Leone works Sunday morning at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew
The Jim Dandy will serve as a prep for the GI Travers Stakes where Sierra Leone will join another stablemate on the day's card in Domestic Product (Practical Joke) who targets the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial and took the GIII Dwyer Stakes July 6 at Aqueduct off short rest.
“I subbed him in there [the Dwyer] and he ran the best race of his career, certainly. It makes sense to keep him at one turn at this point. Now that he has had two races in three weeks, I'll freshen him up and run in the Jerkens – it worked with the sire.”
Also coming off a noteworthy weekend at Saratoga is trainer Todd Pletcher who saddled Illuminare (City of Light) and Miss Justify (Justify) to wins but was forced to scratch the morning-line favorite for the Sanford in Mentee (City of Light) due to a fever Saturday morning.
“He's much better this morning,” said Pletcher on Sunday. “His temperature was normal, so knock on wood with a little bit of good fortune, he'll be back on track pretty soon.”
Pletcher has a trio of runners looking towards the GI Haskell Stakes at Monmouth including 'TDN Rising Star' and champion 2-year-old male Fierceness (City of Light), 'TDN Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) and Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso).
“As of right now and speaking to the connections, the plan is to enter all three in the Haskell. We'll take that next step and then assess how everything is shaping up.”
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