Brown Sophs Taking Conservative Approach

With four prospects for the Aug. 27 GI Travers S., trainer Chad Brown opted for three routes, none involving the major 3-year-old races this weekend, the GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth Park and and the GII Jim Dandy S. at Saratoga. He said Wednesday that the goal for his colts was for tests and tune-ups rather than far more difficult assignments in advance of Saratoga's marquee race.

Rather than face Nyquist (Uncle Mo) and Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the Haskell and Mohaymen (Tapit), Creator (Tapit) and Destin (Giant's Causeway) in the Jim Dandy, Brown entered Connect (Curlin) and 'TDN Rising Star' Gift Box (Twirling Candy) in Friday's $100,000 Curlin S. at 1 1/8 miles. Fellow 'Rising Star' My Man Sam (Trappe Shot) made his first start since finishing 11th in the GI Kentucky Derby, Saturday, finishing second in an allowance at Saratoga, and Economic Model (Flatter) is on course to the GII West Virginia Derby on Aug. 6.

While Brown hopes to get one or maybe all of them to the $1.25-million Travers, he pointed out that that they still have to prove they belong.

“It's a good feeling right now, but my four horses are not as accomplished as a group that is going to be aiming for the Travers,” he said. “It doesn't warrant something like I'm holding a strong hand for the Travers. These are lightly raced horses. Economic Model is the most accomplished now with a second in the Dwyer and a stakes win (in the Easy Goer S. June 11). Still, we're a ways from the Travers and there are some nice horses out there. They are accomplished Grade I dirt 3-year-olds and these four aren't yet. But I'm happy to have them and I am optimistic that one of these horses can pop up and potentially be right there in a race like the Travers.”

During the conversation that was primarily focused on his 3-year-old colts, Brown said that he expects Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) to improve from his win in the GI Manhattan S. in the GII Bowling Green S. Saturday; that GI Diana winner Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) looked tired after the victory and won't run again until the GI Flower Bowl S. Oct. 8; and that unbeaten Lady Eli (Divine Park) is training well in Saratoga and is likely to make her comeback in the GII Ballston Spa S. Aug. 27.

Gift Box and Connect are part of a field of 10 in the Curlin and are coming into the race off victories at Belmont Park.

“I think that both horses, right now at their stage of development, qualify for the Curlin the way it's written and both deserve to run in the easiest of the three races in front of us, between the Haskell, the Jim Dandy and the Curlin,” Brown said. “With both horses, we have aspirations to go on to the Travers. While it's not for sure that one of them is going to win, I feel I confident that it is the easiest of the three races. I'm not looking to give these horse too hard of a race. They're both lightly raced and they are both developing nicely. I”m looking to run well and move forward off the race. I think the Curlin gives both horses the chance to accomplish that.”

Gift Box was second in the GII Remsen S. last year, but was given time off during the when Brown didn't like the way he was training in Florida. He won his comeback race May 26 in Elmont, but the Curlin will be his first start in two months. Brown said Gift Box is better with space between races.

“He did run here as a 2-year-old one time [finishing third on debut last August], but I'd like to get him another race over the track,” Brown said. “We decided to give him the time. He's done well. He's had a nice string of workouts. I believe, despite the layoff, he's fit enough. He ran the best of his life the last time out off a very long layoff, since the Remsen. I just can't see the layoff being an issue, based on his last race.”

Connect comes into the race named for his sire after winning in May and June at Belmont Park. This will be his first try at a distance of ground.

“He has a pedigree to get better as we stretch him out,” Brown said. “I don't think this horse will have any problem getting two turns. We've always thought a lot of this horse.”

My Man Sam was caught at the wire Saturday by 2015 GI Preakness S. runner-up Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) and Brown said he remains a Travers candidate.

“He came out of the race in good shape,” Brown said. “He ran like a horse that really needed a race. I was disappointed that he hung a bit in the lane and couldn't finish off his race. He did get quite tired after the race. I think he''ll get a lot out of it. If he gets the right pace set up in a race like the Travers, anything can happen. I'm pointing toward that race.”

Brown said he preferred to run Flintshire in the Bowling Green and the Sword Dancer over taking the Juddmonte star to the GI Arlington Million on Aug. 13. He will then train him to up to the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational on Oct. 1.

Lady Eli has not raced since July 4, 2015, when she took her career record to six-for-six in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. She stepped on a nail on the way back from post-race test barn, which led to a bout with laminitis. Lady Eli survived and went back to the track earlier this year.

”She's doing outstanding,” Brown said. “She's here now training. I'm pointing her to the Ballston Spa. I feel good about that.”