Trainer Chad Brown will saddle two promising juveniles in Pleuven, a two-time stakes winner in France making his U.S. debut, and impressive first-out winner Request in the $100,000 Dania Beach Stakes (gr. IIIT) Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park.
Pleuven began his career for breeder Jean de Cheffontaines by placing in his first two efforts before winning his next two starts, including the listed Prix Roland de Chambure at Longchamp July 13. The son of Turtle Bowl was purchased privately thereafter, and will make his first start on these shores while carrying the colors of Robert LaPenta and Gary and Bradley Finder.
"He took a little time to acclimate when I got him into New York and we weren't able to get him to the races up there," Brown said. "He needed a little extra time. Since I shipped him down here, he's really done well. We're going to give him a shot in this race."
Brown's other representative in the Dania Beach, a one-mile turf race for 2-year-olds, is Paul Pompa Jr.'s Request, a $400,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase who took the overland route on his way to a debut success Sept. 21 at Belmont Park. The dark bay son of Dynaformer will be making his second career start Saturday.
"He ran well first time out and then we gave him a little freshening," Brown said. "He was entered in a stakes in New York and then they canceled racing that day, so his schedule's been a little bit interrupted. But since he's come down to Florida he's trained well. He's another that deserves a shot in this race, so I'm going to run them both."
$100,000 Dania Beach Stakes Handicap (gr. IIIT, race 9, approximate post time 4:33 p.m. EST) 2YO, 1 mile, turf
PP, Horse, Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. Imaginethatmom (FL), A. Jaen, 116, M. Yates
2. Pleuven (FR), A. Garcia, 116, C. Brown
3. Request (KY), J. Castellano, 116, C. Brown
4. Cabo Cat (KY), J. Bravo, 116, M. Hennig
5. Yes I'm Lucky (KY), P. Lopez, 118, E. Plesa Jr.
6. Bon Accord (KY), J. Rosario, 116, A. Sano
7. Mr Speaker (KY), J. Lezcano, 116, C. McGaughey III
8. Here's Johnny (FL), K. Desormeaux, 116, W. Ward
9. Hesinfront (KY), J. Castanon, 116, D. Romans
