Brown Stars & Stripes Runners Breeze

Trainer Chad Brown holds a strong hand for both the GI Belmont Derby and GI Belmont Oaks July 4 and all five of his contenders worked Saturday at Belmont. 

Leading the quintet was the undefeated Lady Eli (Divine Park), who is likely to be the favorite to give Brown his second renewal of the Belmont Oaks which he won last term with Minorette (Smart Strike). A perfect five-for-five, the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine won the Wonder Again S., the traditional prep for the Oaks, last time May 31. The dark bay breezed five furlongs on the turf Saturday in 1:01.66 (7/23). 

“There’s always some pressure when you have an undefeated horse; you’d like to keep it going,” said Brown. “She’s given us every indication in the morning that she’s going to continue to run her ‘A’ race, but as she goes on the races are always going to get harder. I’d anticipate this being the most difficult race she’s been in, but she seems like she’s up for it. She continues to improve.” 

Also pointing for the Oaks is Brous Stable LLC, Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable’s Consumer Credit (More Than Ready). Last seen finishing third in the GI American Oaks May 30, the GIII Sweetest Chant S. victress also worked five panels on the turf in 1:02.55 (20/23). 

“Consumer Credit breezed well,” Brown commented. “She showed in her last race that she has the ability to stretch out to a mile and a quarter. She’s coming into the race in good form.” 

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Strict Compliance (Into Mischief) completes Brown’s Oaks trio. The Penn Oaks winner equaled Lady Eli’s time of 1:01.66 for five panels on the sod. 

“Strict Compliance is lightly raced,” the conditioner commented. “She’s in good form, a little bit of a later developing filly than the other two, but I’m confident she can handle the distance. It’s going to be a big class test for her, but she can get the mile and a quarter and it’s a big purse. She deserves a shot.” 

Brown launches on a two-pronged attack on the Belmont Derby with Klaravich and Lawrence’s Takeover Target (Harlan’s Holiday) and Startup Nation (Temple City). The pair breezed together, covering five furlongs of turf in 1:03.24 (22/23). Takeover Target won his first two outings before finishing second last time behind fellow Belmont Derby contender Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) in the Pennine Ridge S., the prep for the Derby, May 30. Winner of last term’s GII With Anticipation S., Startup Nation was third last time in the Penine Ridge. 

“Takeover Target and Startup Nation breezed together as they have been all along,” said Brown. “It was more of the same from them, steady, easy work. We didn’t want to do too much with them today and they went perfect. I believe they both will have no problem with a mile and a quarter, as well.”