Chad Brown was trackside Saturday to watch eight of his Breeders' Cup hopefuls breeze over the Belmont Park dirt training track, including GI Breeders' Cup Classic contender 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) and the dual Grade I-winning GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile contender 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie).
The four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner is well positioned for more main-track success heading into next weekend's World Championships with Sierra Leone, Domestic Product (Practical Joke) (Dirt Mile), 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke) (Filly & Mare Sprint), Raging Sea (Curlin) (Distaff), and the promising 2-year-old Chancer McPatrick.
“We've been down this road before and we've brought a good group in–particularly on the dirt,” Brown said. “We've won dirt races before at the Breeders' Cup, including at Del Mar with Good Magic. We've had some close finishes in the Distaff running second three times. Overall, I don't know that I've had as many dirt horses that will be this prominent in the wagering as I have this year. That core group of horses on the dirt–some of them are likely to vie for favoritism.”
Brown has saddled 45 graded stakes-winners this year, including 14 Grade I winners split evenly between turf and dirt.
His turf contingent at the Breeders' Cup will include 'TDN Rising Star' Virgin Colada (More Than Ready) (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Zulu Kingdom (Ire) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) (Juvenile Turf), Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) (Mile), Chili Flag (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}) (Mile), and Gina Romantica (Into Mischief) (Mile).
“We have some chances in many of the races we're participating in,” Brown said. “These are tough races and with each race it's hard to get the horses there and healthy and in good condition all the way across the country. It's a very solid group.”
Domestic Product worked a sharp solo half-mile in :48.31 (16/189) as he prepares for the two-turn Dirt Mile after impressive scores in the one-turn mile GIII Dwyer in July at Belmont at the Big A and a last-out neck win traveling seven furlongs in the Grade I H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on Aug. 24.
“He worked good,” Brown said. We plan on running in the Dirt Mile.”
Chancer McPatrick worked a solo half-mile in :49.01 (57/189). He is undefeated in three starts each completed in breathtaking rallying style, including the GI Champagne traveling a one-turn mile Oct. 5.
Chancer McPatrick working at Belmont Saturday | Sarah Andrew
“He worked great and galloped out super,” Brown said. “He's always been a classy, intelligent young horse and he's continued to develop. I've been very impressed with him.”
Sierra Leone, winner of this spring's GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes and third in the GI Travers last time, went a solo half-mile in :49.81 (110/189), galloping out strongly through the turn. This work followed a half-mile breeze in :49.25 last week here.
“He had a monster work last week and I wanted him to work just a tick easier,” Brown said. “It went perfect, and he galloped out super. He's ready to go.”
Ways and Means, winner of this summer's GI Test Stakes, worked a half-mile in :48.63 (32/189).
“She's done super. The work went great. I'm really happy with Ways and Means,” Brown said.
Raging Sea, winner of the GII Beldame last out, worked :49.00 (50/189) in company. Undefeated GII Pilgrim winner Zulu Kingdom worked a half-mile in :48.63 (32/189) in company. Virgin Colada, runner-up in the GII Miss Grillo, worked a half-mile in :50.11 (135/189).
Other Breeders' Cup workers at Belmont Park included: last out GII Woodward winner Tapit Trice (Tapit) (Classic) breezed a half-mile for Todd Pletcher in :49.21 (72/189); and the Jorge Abreu-trained runaway GI Frizette winner Scottish Lassie (McKinzie) (Juvenile Fillies) worked a half-mile in :49.61 (97/189).
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