Only six foes–including a pair of stablemates–will line up to take on 1-5 morning-line favorite Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in his GI Longines Sword Dancer S. title defense at Saratoga Saturday. In addition to a $1-million purse, the 1 1/2-mile event also offers a berth to the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita.
The globe-trotting Juddmonte homebred, second in both the G1 Prix de l'Arc Triomphe and G1 Hong Kong Vase in 2015 while under the tutelage of Andre Fabre, put on a show for the Saratoga faithful to record a visually impressive 3/4-length decision over pacesetting Grand Tito (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GII Bowling Green S. July 30. It was another length back to classy 7-year-old veteran Twilight Eclipse (Purim) in third that day.
Flintshire, also runner-up in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Turf, captured the GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan S. in another jaw-dropping performance at Belmont Park June 11 while making his first attempt for the Chad Brown barn.
“With a horse like Flintshire, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel,” Brown said. “By the time the horse had come over to us, he had made almost $8 million, so I'm not going to change anything with the horse. He's settled in nicely and, fortunately, he's taken to our program like the class horse he is. He came to us in outstanding condition from Andre Fabre. He had been managed by both Mr. Fabre and Juddmonte so well, that's why we have a horse at age six that's still at the top of his game.”
Brown will also saddle co-second choice Money Multiplier (Lookin At Lucky), runner-up in both the GI Man O' War S. May 14 and GI United Nations S. July 3. He enters off a win over Roman Approval (Roman Ruler) in an optional claimer at the Spa Aug. 5.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
