Trainer Chad Brown registered his 2,000th career win in Friday's 10th-race finale at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., when Digital Software netted a victory by a head under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. for owner Klaravich Stables in a 1 1/16-mile maiden claiming contest over the inner turf course.
Brown has won four Eclipse Awards as Outstanding Trainer and has compiled 15 Breeders' Cup victories in addition to Cloud Computing winning the 2017 Preakness. Brown has also won the Saratoga training title three times [2016, 2018-19].
A 42-year-old native of Mechanicville, N.Y., Brown was a 2001 graduate of Cornell University who worked for two Hall of Fame trainers, Shug McGaughey and Robert Frankel, before starting his own public stable in November 2007.
He recorded his 1,000th career victory at Saratoga in 2016. His 2,000th win came with a horse owned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables, one of his principal owners.
“We were rooting for the maiden 40 horse [Digital Software] like he was Bricks and Mortar at the Breeders' Cup just now,” Brown said. “I was actually saying that to Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] out on the track and he smiled and said, 'I rode him like he was him.'
“I'm very appreciative and reflecting on all the people that contributed to this, but most of them are still working and some are not on site. So many people go into this, and you heard a lot of that at the Hall of Fame today from the inductees. It's all the way down to milestones like this, there's a lot of people that play a role in it from family to mentors and when you reach these milestones, I take a moment to reflect and appreciate all the people that made this happen.
“I'm running the ship and calling the shots, but I can't do it without all my wonderful co-workers, all the great horses and all the people that taught you along the way. There are so many things that go into it. I play one role – it's an important role – but far from the only role. It's a great thing to experience and hopefully it will sink in and my team can really appreciate it and move forward to try and get the next goal.”
“It is so great that we can be part of Chad's achievement of 2,000 wins,” said Klarman. “It's obvious that he's extraordinarily talented. This is so great and I am happy for him. He's fantastic. He's a gifted horseman and he is also a great friend.”
“I ride a lot for Chad and I have had a lot of success with him,” said Ortiz. “He's one of those guys who is always there for me and he's helped me a lot. I wish him all the best success and that he can continue having success. I respect him a lot and I enjoy everything he's done so far.”
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