Brown Finalizing BC Plans

Talented 4-year-old sprinter Bakken (Distorted Humor), who recently returned from a layoff with a front-running allowance score on Oct. 2 at Belmont, is under serious consideration for a start in the $1.5- million GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint, according to trainer Chad Brown. Brown said the lightly raced colt, “is a 50/50 candidate for the Sprint. I need to see how he trains over the next week before deciding.” 

With a number of high-profile contenders in multiple races at the Oct. 31-Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Brown said he is pleased with how his trainees are progressing. New York-bred Zivo (True Direction), winner of five races in 2014 and most recently the runner-up to TDN Rising Star Tonalist (Tapit) in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup, is set to make his next start in the $5-million GI Classic. “He has been training perfectly since [the Gold Cup],” said Brown. 

Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Stephanie’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), who won the GI Flower Bowl Invitational S. last out, is also Breeders’ Cup bound. “She came out of that race doing great. We are on to the Filly and Mare Turf with her, he said.” Brown added that GI First Lady S. winner Dayatthespa (City Zip), will join Stephanie’s Kitten in the starting gate in what will be her first career attempt at the mile-and-a-quarter distance. He also noted that speedy Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy), most recently third in the GI Woodbine Mile, will be shortened up to compete in the $1-million GI Turf Sprint. 

Undefeated 2-year-old filly Lady Eli (Divine Park), winner of the GIII Miss Grillo S. last out, continues to impress Brown, he said. “She is on for the [GI] Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf,” said Brown. Plans for the trainer’s other 2-year-olds continue to evolve. He has two daughters of More Than Ready, Tammy the Torpedo and P.G. Johnson S. winner Partisan Politics, under consideration for the Juvenile Fillies Turf–as well as the Chelsey Flower S. at Belmont Oct. 25. 
Brown’s brigade of 2-year-old colts is headlined by a pair of New York-breds–GII With Anticipation S. winner Startup Nation (Temple City) and GIII Pilgrim S. third Offering Plan (Spring at Last)–as well as GIII Bourbon S. third-place finisher Can’t Happen Here (Desert Party). All three colts are considered possible for the $1-million GI Juvenile Turf, but alternatively could run in the Awad S. in New York Oct. 26. 

“With the 2-year-olds, there are plenty of opportunities,” he said. “I just need to see the pre-entries and watch these last few workouts before making a decision about where to go.” 

Brown said he intended to finalize his Breeders’ Cup plans during the coming week, with all contenders completing significant preparations at his Belmont Park base before shipping to California on the week of the Championships. –Ben Massam