Brown Holds Strong Hand in HOF S.

Trainer Chad Brown has five chances to capture his second renewal of Saratoga’s GII National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame S. Friday. Leading the Brown quintet is morning-line favorite Night Prowler (Giant’s Causeway), who missed by just a head to subsequent GI Belmont Derby winner Force the Pass (Speightstown) when last seen in the GIII Penn Mile May 30. The Paul Pompa Jr. colorbearer kicked off this term with a victory in Gulfstream’s GIII Dania Beach S. Jan. 3 and was fifth as the favorite next out in that venue’s GIII Palm Beach S. Mar. 7. The chestnut returned to his winning ways in Keeneland’s GIII Transylvania S. Apr. 15 prior to his run in the Penn Mile last time.

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence’s Startup Nation (Temple City) and Takeover Target (Harlan’s Holiday) also represent the Brown barn. Winner of last term’s GII With Anticipation S. at this course and distance, Startup Nation was third to GSW Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) in Belmont’s Penine Ridge S. May 30 and was third in the Belmont Derby after a wide trip July 4. Opening his account with a pair of wins at Belmont, Takeover Target missed by just a neck in the Penine Ridge and was fifth last time in the Belmont Derby.

Brown also saddles Ol Memorial Stable’s Croninthebarbarian (Stroll) and Head of Plains Partners LLC’s Winter Springs (Fr) (Stormy River {Fr}). Previously trained by Gary Simms, Croninthebarbarian was second to the reopposing A Lot (Tapit) in Belmont’s Paradise Creek S. in his debut for this barn May 23 and finished third last time in that venue’s Manila S. July 12. Previously trained by J. Reynier during her French campaign, Winter Springs receives Lasix for the first time while making his Stateside debut in this spot. Winner of three of nine starts overseas, the chestnut finished second in a Compiegne allowance in his last start in France Mar. 16.

In addition to Amerman Racing LLC’s MGSP A Lot, Bill Mott also saddles Juddmonte Farms homebred Courtier (Pioneerof the Nile), a half-brother to MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker). (Click here for Courtier feature) A second out winner when switched to the turf at Keeneland last October, the bay followed suit with a Churchill Downs allowance win on the sod two weeks later and missed by just a head to stablemate Dubai Sky (Candy Ride {Arg}) when last seen in Gulfstream’s Kitten’s Joy S. Jan. 24.

Live Oak’s GIII American Derby winner World Approval (Northern Afleet) looks to make it two in a row for trainer Mark Casse. Winner of three of five starts since transferring to the Casse barn, the well-bred gray was third to Divisidero in the GII American Turf S. at Churchill Downs May 2 and fourth in the Penine Ridge prior to his victory in Arlington’s American Derby July 11.

Flying a bit under the radar in this test is Robert Spiegel’s MSW Vision Perfect (Pollard’s Vision). Graduating at second asking at Belmont last September, the David Donk pupil was second in that venue’s GIII Pilgrim S. Sept. 28 and capped off his juvenile campaign with a victory in the Awad S. over a yielding turf course downstate Oct. 26. The dark bay kicked off this term with a neck victory in Aqueduct’s Woodhaven S. Apr. 18 and is making his first start since in this spot.