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Colonel Liam Favored In Ultra-Competitive Turf Classic

Saturday's GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic brings together this country's best turf runners currently in training, and Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) has an opportunity to cement his status at the top of the heap in a race with several winning chances.

The $50,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1.2-million OBS April breezer is four-for-five on the grass, his lone defeat coming at the hooves of Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) when beaten a half-length into fourth in the Saratoga Derby last August. Given some rest following that hard effort, the immaculately bred gray colt has been untouchable since, with victories in the Tropical Park Derby, the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf–with Lasix off, by rule–and a latest success in the GII Muniz Memorial S. at the Fair Grounds Mar. 20. He races without Lasix again Saturday, but the waters are considerably deeper.

Domestic Spending would go on to frank the form of his Saratoga success in his lone other sophomore appearance, a fast-finishing defeat of the re-opposing Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) in the GI Hollywood Derby at Del Mar Nov. 28. With Irad Ortiz, Jr. sticking with Colonel Liam, trainer Chad Brown has reached out to Flavien Prat for the ride.

Digital Age (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is the defending champion, having returned a juicy 8.60-1 when closing from ninth of 10 to score by 3/4 of a length in September. He is best forgiven for his 11th in the GI Breeders' Cup Mile in November, as the trip was likely on the short side and he found himself last early with too much to do against Grade I milers. Whereas he had the benefit of race fitness last summer, he races first off a six-month absence here.

Like Domestic Spending, Ride a Comet (Candy Ride {Arg}) is a Hollywood Derby winner, having scored in 2018, and has since returned from a 2-year vacation to win three of five starts. The 6-year-old beat recent Elusive Quality S. winner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed) in the GIII Tropical Park Turf S. at Gulfstream Jan. 9, but was bumped at the start of the GI F.E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita Mar. 6 and was seventh, though not beaten far, behind the talented Hit The Road (More Than Ready). Ride a Comet rallied from last of nine to round out the exacta underneath Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}) when last seen in the GI Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland Apr. 9, but he clearly handles this trip and is sneaky here at a price. A Grade I victory would be very meaningful for this half-brother to GI Belmont S. winner Tapwrit (Tapit).

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Digital Age Faces Off With Colonel Liam In Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic

Klaravich Stables' defending champion Digital Age and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) winner Colonel Liam headline a field of nine older runners entered Tuesday for Saturday's 35th running of the $1,000,000 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile grass test will go as the 11th race on Saturday's 14-race Kentucky Derby Day program with a 5:27 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post time Saturday is 10:30 a.m.

Trained by Chad Brown, Digital Age will be attempting to join Divisidero (2016-2017), Wise Dan (2013-2014) and Einstein (BRZ) (2008-2009) as a back-to-back winner of the Turf Classic.

Digital Age, who also won the American Turf (G2) here in 2019 in his only other start at Churchill Downs, will be ridden by Javier Castellano and exit post six.

Brown will saddle another Klaravich runner in Domestic Spending.

A winner of four of five career starts, Domestic Spending will be making his first start since taking the Hollywood Derby (G1) over Thanksgiving weekend last fall at Del Mar. Flavien Prat has the mount and will exit post five.

Robert and Lawana Low's Colonel Liam has won his past three starts on the grass, following his victory in the Pegasus with a score in the Muniz Memorial Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Colonel Liam will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. from post three.

The field for the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:

Masteroffoxhounds (Joel Rosario, 120 pounds)
Count Again (Luis Saez, 120)
Colonel Liam (Irad Ortiz Jr., 124)
Ivar (Joe Talamo, 122)
Domestic Spending (Flavien Prat, 124)
Digital Age (Javier Castellano, 120)
Smooth Like Strait (Umberto Rispoli, 120)
Cross Border (Ricardo Santana Jr., 120)
Ride a Comet (Tyler Gaffalione, 118)

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Lucky 13? Brown Puts Breeders’ Cup Arsenal Through Final Rehearsals In New York

Trainer Chad Brown will be sending out a baker's dozen in pursuit of victories at the Nov. 6-7 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky. The four-time Eclipse Award-winning conditioner breezed the bulk of his Breeders' Cup contingent on Sunday morning at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Rushing Fall, an aspirant for the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf for e Five Thoroughbred Racing, went a half-mile in 50.69 seconds in company with Peter Brant's Sistercharlie [50.66] over a soft inner turf.

Rushing Fall, a 5-year-old bay mare by leading Breeders' Cup producing stallion More Than Ready, will look to become only the fifth horse to notch victories in two different Breeders' Cup races. During her juvenile campaign, Rushing Fall won the 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Rushing Fall is unbeaten this year in three starts, all at different tracks, while garnering triple-digit speed figures. Following a 2020 debut win in the Grade 3 Beaugay on June 3 at Belmont Park, she scored back-to-back Grade 1 wins in the Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland and the Diana on August 23 at Saratoga.

“She's been training well,” said e Five Thoroughbred Racing owner Bob Edwards. “I've been speaking with Chad quite a bit. She's a mare that works better with breaks, so we gave her a little freshening after the Diana. We know she loves Keeneland. I'm looking forward to the Breeders' Cup and hopefully she gets a good trip.”

Rushing Fall, who has earned $2,553,000 while boasting a 14-11-2-0 record, is scheduled to go through the sales ring at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale following the Breeders' Cup, where she will be consigned by Indian Creek.

“It's kind of bittersweet,” Edwards said. “Regardless of what happens, we're still proud of her. She's sound and she's training well. Coming back after last year's Keeneland race [fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 First Lady] she wasn't herself. We felt we had to race her one more year and it's all paid off.

“She's gotten more mature and confident in herself,” Edwards added. “She has a gorgeous blaze, great head, and great body. It's a test going mile and three-sixteenths since she's never gone that long before, but Chad is a phenomenal trainer and he's won this before.”

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano has been aboard Rushing Fall in all of her starts and seeks a 13th Breeders' Cup victory in the Filly and Mare Turf.

Sistercharlie is in pursuit of a second triumph in the Filly Mare and Turf. The seven-time Grade 1 winner was third in the Grade 2 Ballston Spa and Grade 1 Diana, both at Saratoga and will attempt to join Ouija Board [2004, 2006] as the only horses to score non-consecutive wins in the Filly and Mare Turf. Brown's remaining Filly and Mare Turf hopefuls My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay, the second and third-place finishers last out in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on October 10 at Belmont, also worked a half-mile on the inner turf Sunday in company with Eliade and Digital Age, respectively.

Also on the work tab for Brown was Uni, the winner of last year's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Mile, who went a half-mile in 50.60 in company with Domestic Spending. Uni seeks a repeat victory in the event coming off a second consecutive triumph in the Grade 1 First Lady on October 3 at Keeneland.

The four-time Grade 1 winning 6-year-old chestnut daughter of More Than Ready was third to stablemate Newspaperofrecord in the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 27 over the Widener turf at Belmont before an uncharacteristic seventh as the favorite in the Grade 1 Fourstardave over the Saratoga Mellon turf.

“Her last couple of works have shown that she's really starting to show her old self,” said Bradley Weisbord, who manages Uni on behalf of owners Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables. “Going from five to six, some horses may take a few races to knock the rust off. She's got a major turn of foot and it looks like we're going to get firm ground for Saturday. She's won on many different surfaces, but firm turf is where she is best.”

Uni will attempt to become the sixth horse to notch back-to-back Mile victories following Miesque [1987-88], Lure [1993-94], Da Hoss [1996,98], Goldikova [2008-10] and Wise Dan [2012-13].

Digital Age completed his half-mile work in 51.25. Owned by Klaravich Stables, the Irish-bred son of Invincible Sprit won the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon on September 5 at Churchill Downs last out.

Peter Brant's Editor At Large [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf], third in the Grade 2 Miss Grillo on October 4 at Belmont Park last out, worked a half-mile in 50.75 in company with Klaravich Stables' Public Sector [Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf], second in the Grade 2 Pilgrim on October 3 at Belmont Park, who was clocked in 50.69. Brown won the Juvenile Turf last year with Structor.

On the main track, Brown sent out Klaravich Stables' Complexity, winner of the Grade 2 Kelso last out, for a half-mile breeze in 49.21. The son of Maclean's Music, who won the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park as a 2-year-old, has given first preference to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile over the Sprint. Also for Brown and Klaravich, Reinvestment Risk went a half-mile in 49.04 seconds in preparation for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, which Brown won with Good Magic in 2017. The son of first-crop sire Upstart was a recent second in the Grade 1 Champagne to likely Juvenile favorite Jackie's Warrior.

Peter Brant's Dunbar Road logged a five-furlong work in 1:00.60 for Brown. The winner of last year's Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga is targeting the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff, which she finished fifth in last year.

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Strength In Numbers And Quality: Brown Expected To Pre-Enter 13 Horses In Seven Races

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown worked a number of his baker's dozen of Breeders' Cup contenders over the weekend on both dirt and turf at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Brown said he will pre-enter in seven Breeders' Cup events: the Filly & Mare Turf [Sistercharlie, Rushing Fall, My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay]; Mile [Raging Bull, Uni, Digital Age]; Distaff [Dunbar Road]; Dirt Mile [Complexity], Juvenile [Reinvestment Risk]; Juvenile Fillies Turf [Editor At Large]; Juvenile Turf [Public Sector]; and Turf Sprint [Front Run the Fed].

“I think our group is representative of the diversity of our team, being able to work with any kind of horse,” said Brown, who has won 15 Breeders' Cup events. “This is the time to showcase not only your horses but your team's ability to get to the championship day for various owners out there to see.”

Klaravich Stables' Complexity, last out winner of the Grade 2 Kelso at Belmont, worked a half-mile solo in 48.81 Sunday on Big Sandy after missing a work last week.

“He worked this morning and worked great,” said Brown of the 2018 Grade 1 Champagne-winner. “He will be pre-entered tomorrow as long as he comes out of it well.”

A number of notables breezed on the Belmont inner turf Sunday led by Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie, who worked five-eighths in 1:01.85.

Rushing Fall, a five-time Grade 1-winner, captured the Grade 1 Diana last out on August 23 at Saratoga. Sistercharlie, a seven-time Grade 1-winner, was fourth last out in the Flower Bowl in just her second start of the season. Both mares will be retired following the Breeders' Cup.

“They're both training great. Rushing Fall has been a model of consistency all year in works and racing,” said Brown. “Sistercharlie got started a little later than we wanted and was clearly a little rusty and out of form in her first start. In her second start, much improved and we decided to skip the Flower Bowl and go fresh.

“So far, that decision, based on her morning works, is clearly the right one,” added Brown regarding Sistercharlie. “Her last two workouts have been her best two workouts of the year, I thought. She continues to train up to the race the right way.”

My Sister Nat and Nay Lady Nay worked in company in 50.66 as they look to step up against their well-regarded stablemates.

Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables' reigning Champion Turf Female Uni worked five-eighths in company with Domestic Spending in 1:02.58.

“She worked well. I had her in 1:01 and change,” noted Brown, who advised that Domestic Spending is targeting the nine-furlong Grade 1 Hollywood Derby.

Digital Age [1:02.02] worked in company with Analyze It [1:02.05] through five panels.

Klaravich Stables' maiden winner Public Sector, second last out in the Grade 2 Pilgrim at Belmont, and Peter Brant's maiden winner Editor At Large, third last out in the Miss Grillo at Belmont, worked in company in 1:02.69.

Brown said Public Sector would benefit from an expected stronger pace in the Juvenile Turf.

“He's an improving horse. His maiden win was super impressive at Saratoga,” said Brown. “In the Pilgrim, he got caught in a pace less race. He was really out of sorts that way. He needs some pace to run at. He would be better in a larger field and I like the cutback for him to a mile on a tighter track with even more going on in front of him.

“I'll pre-enter Editor At Large in the Juvenile Fillies Turf,” added Brown. “She worked exceptional today and I want to try and get her in the race if we can.”

On Saturday, Reinvestment Risk, runner-up to Jackie's Warrior in both the Grade 1 Runhappy Hopeful and Grade 1 Champagne, worked a half-mile in 48.20 inside of maiden Miles D on the Belmont main.

“I wanted to make share he kept his attention to business and it worked out really well,” said Brown regarding the rail-skimming work. “He went with a promising maiden – Miles D – and they went well together. He's doing well and we're going to go on to that race [Juvenile].”

Brown said Reinvestment Risk will appreciate the Keeneland main track after a disappoint effort in the Champagne last out at Belmont when 5 ½-length in arrears to a runaway Jackie's Warrior.

“I just don't think he cared for the track particularly at Belmont that day,” said Brown. “That said, the winner was super impressive and it's hard to imagine anyone beating him even if he loved the track that day.

“He's come back and worked well and I think he'll appreciate a different surface at Keeneland,” added Brown. “I have a feeling that track will play a little more like Saratoga.”

Peter Brant's Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road, third last out in the Grade 2 Beldame at Belmont, worked five-eighths Saturday in 1:01.85 on the main track towards her second attempt at the Distaff following a fifth last year.

“Dunbar Road went solo yesterday and she worked well and came out of it well. She's on target for the Distaff,” said Brown.

Klaravich Stables' multiple Grade 1-winner Newspaperofrecord worked a half-mile in 48.40 Sunday on the Belmont main in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Matriarch, a one-mile turf event on November 29 at Del Mar.

“She did a beautiful half mile on the dirt. She looked great,” said Brown.

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