Tough Trio for Brown in Flower Bowl

As has become the custom in New York’s top turf races, Chad Brown offers a three-pronged attack in Saturday’s GI Flower Bowl S., a ‘Win and You’re In’ event for the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland next month. Leading the fray is dual Grade I-winner Cambier Parc (Medaglia d’Oro), victorious in four graded stakes last season–the GI Queen Elizabeth Cup, GI Del Mar Oaks, GIII Wonder Again S. and GIII Herecomesthebride S. Sent off the even-money favorite in her sole start of 2020 in the Sept. 12 GII Canadian S. at Woodbine, the OXO Equine runner finished runner-up behind Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}). Jockey John Velazquez, aboard for both Grade I wins in 2019, is reunited with the 4-year-old here. Brown is also represented by Nay Lady Nay (Ire) No Nay Never), winner of two of three starts this term, including Monmouth’s nine-furlong GIII Matchmaker S. in July. The 4-year-old, who returned to score in Laurel’s All Along S. Sept. 7, will be joined by Irad Ortiz Jr. for the first time Saturday.

Flying high following a victory in last weekend’s G1 Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe with Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), Peter Brant is represented by the French hero’s half-sister My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}). Winner of the G3 Bertrand de Tarragon at Longchamp during her sophomore season, the bay was winless in a quartet of starts at four, however, did hit the board in three of them, including a second in Aqueduct’s 11-furlong GIII Long Island S. Nov. 30. Runner-up behind Mean Mary (Scat Daddy) in Belmont’s GII New York S. June 27, the French-bred annexed the 12-furlong GIII Waya S. at the Spa Aug. 8. Most recently, she finished second to Civil Union (War Front) in the Sept. 5 GII Glens Falls S.

Riding a three-race win streak, Civil Union, a former Brown trainee, joined the Shug McGaughey barn last fall, debuting for the trainer with a third in a 9 1/2-furlong Gulfstream allowance in January. Breaking through with an allowance score over this course and trip June 21, the Joe Allen homebred added the July 12 River Memories S. over 12 furlongs before her victory upstate. Joel Rosario, in the irons for her latest win, gets back on board this time.

“I think she’s a nice filly and she’s learned to put it all together,” McGaughey said. “We’ve been able to space her races in a good way and we’ll see if she moves it up the next notch. She’ll run as far as you want to run her.”

He added, “Most of the War Fronts like the firm turf. I think she likes this big race track at Belmont, too. She liked Saratoga and ran good there, but I think everything is coming together with her and I’m hoping it comes together Saturday.”

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Fayette: Wet Track Could Be Problematic For Tax Off The Layoff

The only time Tax has run at Keeneland was two years ago in a $50,000 maiden claiming race. The stakes will be much higher Saturday when the now 4-year-old gelding goes postward in the 63rd running of the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette (G2).

“He's doing well,” said trainer Danny Gargan, who claimed Tax out of that Keeneland race. “I gave him three months off (after the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap-G2) because he really hadn't had a break.”

Now owned by the partnership of R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable, Tax won the Jim Dandy (G2) and the Withers (G3). He also finished second in the Wood Memorial (G2) and Discovery (G3).

“I had targeted this race (Hagyard Fayette) because I like the mile and an eighth (distance),” Gargan said. “I didn't want to go a mile and a quarter right off the bench.”

One concern of Gargan's for Saturday is the strong possibility of rain most of the day and the chance for an off track. In Tax's only off-track race, he was 14th in last year's Kentucky Derby (G1) Presented by Woodford Reserve.

“That one probably shouldn't count because it was more like a swamp,” Gargan said.

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Looking for ‘Magic’ in the QEII

Newcomer Magic Attitude (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) marked her U.S. debut with an emphatic score in the Sept. 19 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and will try to remain undefeated at the highest level in this country in Saturday’s GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. at Keeneland. A winner of one of three starts in France for trainer Fabrice Chappet and owner Haras du Saubouas, the English-bred returned off an eight-month layoff to take ParisLongchamp’s G3 Prix Vanteaux in May before finishing runner up in the G1 Prix Saint Alary at Chantilly in June. Transferred to her new trainer Arnaud Delacour following a fifth in the July 5 G1 Prix de Diane, the Lael Stables runner overcame a wide trip to win the 10-furlong Oaks Sept. 19 and will reunite with Javier Castellano, who was aboard for her U.S. unveiling.

Fellow Grade I-winner Red Lark (Ire) (Epaulette {Aus}) also tries to add another top tier tally to her record. Winless in three starts in Ireland last term, the Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners runner won her second U.S. start going nine furlongs on the Santa Anita turf in February before finishing off the board in her next two black-type appearances at that Arcadia oval. Second in the GIII Wilshire S. June 20, the Paddy Gallagher trainee was third–beaten a length–in a Del Mar optional claimer July 12 before attaining a career high in the GI Del Mar Oaks Aug. 22.

One of two fillies by Triple Crown hero American Pharoah in the field, Sweet Melania kicked off the season with a wire-to-wire win in Belmont’s one-mile GIII Wonder Again S. June 20 before getting nipped in the Aug. 28 GIII Lake George S. at Saratoga. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the Robert and Lawana Low representative already has registered a win over the surface, having taken last fall’s GII Jessamine S. at Keeneland.

Also, sired by American Pharoah, Harvey’s Lil Goil tries to recapture the form that saw her win the nine-furlong GIII Regret S. at Churchill Downs. Third returning to the dirt for the 10-furlong GI Alabama S. at Saratoga Aug. 15, the Bill Mott pupil just missed by a neck in the Dueling Grounds Oaks over 10 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs Sept. 10. Mott also saddles Belmont Oaks runner-up Antoinette (Hard Spun).

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