Chad Brown, who scored a trio of graded stakes wins Saturday, looks to keep the momentum heading into next weekend's Super Saturday at Belmont Park. Lady Eli (Divine Park), aiming for the GI Flower Bowl Invitational was among a plethora of Super Saturday contenders to work for Brown at Belmont Sunday. Lady Eli, working in company with GI Secretariat S. winner Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), worked five furlongs over the Belmont turf in 1:03.22.
“Lady Eli is doing really well,” said Brown. “She bounced out of her first defeat in good order and has come back and breezed well since. Today was another great work for her and she's on target for the Flower Bowl.”
Lady Eli won the first six starts of her career, capped by a victory in last year's GI Belmont Oaks. After battling back from laminitis, she returned to finish second in the Aug. 27 GII Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa S. last time out.
Also working for Brown Sunday at Belmont, Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Money Multplier (Lookin at Lucky), one-two in the Aug. 27 GI Sword Dancer Invitational and both aiming for Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, went five furlongs over the turf. Flintshire completed the work in 1:03.12, while Money Multiplier was credited with a final time of 1:03.15.
GI Hopeful S. winner Practical Joke (Into Mischief) and Saratoga maiden winner Favorable Outcome (Flatter), were caught in 1:00 4/5 on the main track in preparation for the Oct. 8 GI Champagne S.
“It was a good day,” said Brown. “We were going to breeze over a two-day period, but with the rain yesterday we pushed it all to today. With an excellent staff, it all worked out and we got it done. Everything was executed perfectly. Everyone hit it perfect and everyone is on schedule. We're in good shape.”
Brown added he was thrilled with Connect (Curlin)'s win in Saturday's GII Pennsylvania Derby.
“We always thought a lot of Connect,” Brown said of the Paul Pompa colorbearer. “He's a horse that took a while to come around. He had a couple of minor injuries along the way and he finally showed yesterday what we thought all along about him; that he could be a top 3-year-old dirt horse. We're very excited about him. So far he looks OK and we'll form a plan in the days to come. The Breeders' Cup will be considered, but there are other races as well and other routes we can take with him. He's definitely an exciting horse for the future.”
The Pennsylvania Derby was Connect's sixth lifetime start. He captured the July 29 Curlin S. before running sixth in the GI Travers S.
Also Saturday, Brown was represented by the first two home in the GIII Noble Damsel S.–Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro) and Zindaya (More Than Ready)–and by GII Commonwealth Derby winner Deeply Undervalued (Kitten's Joy).
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