Saratoga's current leading trainer Chad Brown sent several of his stakes horses to the track Friday morning in hopes of beating this weekend's projected rain.
Juddmote Farms homebred Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}), coming off a visually impressive score in the GII Bowling Green S. and pointing toward the GI Longines Sword Dancer S. Aug. 27, breezed four furlongs on the Oklahoma training track turf course in :49.43 (8/34).
“He looked very, very good,” Brown said. “It was just a little maintenance work for him. Just to stretch his legs ahead of the upcoming weather. I thought he did fine.”
Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) put in her first work since her victory in the GI Diana S. clocking four furlongs in :49.12 (17/52) on the Oklahoma training track, getting the same half-mile time as stablemate and Diana third-place finisher Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow).
“I gave [Dacita] a little time to recover from that race; she was tired coming out of it,” Brown said. “I thought it was a good maintenance work for her. I sharpened up Rainha Da Bateria as well, who I thought looked good.”
Curlin S. top two finishers Connect (Curlin) and 'TDN Rising Star' Gift Box (Twirling Candy), both being pointed for the Aug. 27 GI Travers S., also put in works over the Saratoga main track. Connect breezed four furlongs in company in :48.33 (31/154) while Gift Box worked a solo half-mile in :48.89 (63/154).
“[Gift Box] worked well and galloped out strong,” Brown commented. “Connect was more of a maintenance move and I thought he was moving just as good. So I'm really happy with where they're at. They seem to have bounced out of the Curlin the right way.”
Undefeated 4-year-old Lady Eli (Divine Park), expected to make her return to the races in the GII Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa S. Aug. 27, did not work ahead of this weekend's expected rain but, Brown hopes that he will be able to keep her regular Sunday/Monday training regimen.
“I didn't really have an opportunity to move her work up to today,” Brown offered. “We'll see what just happens with the weather and if we need to make some adjustments we can.”
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