Trainer Chad Brown’s three contenders for the Breeders’ Cup tuned up for their future engagements by breezing on turf Oct. 16 at Belmont Park in New York.
Working in company with Desert Sage, Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) contender Stacelita breezed four furlongs in 48.55 seconds.
“She breezed a half-mile on the turf course, and she is doing very well,” said Brown, who trains the 5-year-old mare for Martin Schwartz.
Dayatthespa and Fantastic Song, respectively under consideration for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (gr. IIT) and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT), together traveled five furlongs in 1:04.01.
“They breezed a little slow,” said Brown. “It was OK, though. I have plenty of time to do some more work with them. They just started off a little slow – a little bit of rider error, to be honest with you. I thought they finished up well and galloped out good.”
Dayatthespa, second in the Natalma (Can-IIIT) for owners Steve Laymon, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Kris Kruid, and John Eaton, is definite for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Brown said. Dell Ridge Farm’s Fantastic Song, third in the Pilgrim (gr. IIIT), will run in the Juvenile Turf if he gets into the field, with Brown recognizing the colt could be excluded with insufficient points.
“Dayatthespa, we’re definitely pointing towards the Breeders’ Cup,” said Brown. “Fantastic Song most likely will go. I would say he would be on the bubble to get into the race. I think he’ll get in with his third-place finish in the Pilgrim, but I’m not positive about it.”
Brown said Schwartz’s Zagora, who returned from her win in the Diana (gr. IT) to finish seventh in the Canadian (Can-IIT), will be given a break and await a 2012 campaign.
“I want to shut her down and give her a little bit of a break,” said Brown. “She came out of the race in Canada sound, but her energy level is not where it was in the summer when she was in form. Her coat has changed a little bit. I think she is a little out of season right now. I’ll map out a campaign in the spring and get her to Florida early.”