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Serve The King Completes Brown’s Five-Win Day At Saratoga

Trainer Chad Brown won one for the proverbial thumb, notching his fifth victory on the card when Peter Brant's Serve the King overtook Ry's the Guy in deep stretch and pressed on for a half-length win in Wednesday's $120,000 John's Call going 1 5/16 miles over Saratoga Race Course's Mellon turf in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 17th running of the John's Call – for 4-year-olds and up who have not won a graded stakes on turf in 2021 – saw Brown extend his meet total to 27, putting him in the top spot among conditioners with 10 race days remaining in the 40-day meet.

Serve the King, under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr., broke from the outermost post and stalked in third position as Ry's the Guy led the seven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 25.85 seconds over firm going. Conviction Trade took the lead on the first pass in front of the grandstand, logging a half-mile in 50.92, and maintained the advantage through three-quarters in 1:15.09 and a mile in 1:40.55.

Heading out the final turn, Ortiz, Jr. tipped Serve the King out, allowing him to take aim at Ry's the Guy. Under right-handed encouragement, Serve the King steadily gained before taking the lead for good in the final sixteenth, completing the course in 2:43.49 for his first win in his last five starts.

“We've been trying to get this horse around three turns since last year and we just didn't have the races available,” said Brown, who is aiming for his fourth career Saratoga training title. “He got started a little late last year and by the time we were really ready to start him, it was going to be in the Red Smith and he got injured so I had to stop on him. Mr. Brant has just been so patient, he always is with these horses and lets us give them the time and he came back really well this year.”

The British-bred Serve the King capitalized on class relief after consecutive fourth-place finishes in the Grade 3 Monmouth on June 5 and the Grade 1 United Nations on the same track on July 17. The 5-year-old son of Kingman improved to 4-1-1 in nine starts and increased his career earnings to $196,180.

“I thought this horse should have been second in the United Nations,” Brown said. “He got in some trouble around the eighth pole and we thought he should've been second. That went into my decision to bring him up here to Saratoga for a race of this caliber. Even though this isn't the Sword Dancer, it's still a real race at Saratoga. If I'm going to bring that horse all the way up here off a fourth on paper in the U.N., it better be a good fourth.”

Brown said Serve the King could now target the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on October 9 at Belmont Park.

“Domestic Spending might train up to the Breeders' Cup maybe, so that race might be a little bit open for a horse like this,” Brown said. “He used this restricted race to really have his coming out party so to speak, so it's time to go back in a real race again. I think that's probably the most logical.”

Serve the King was the third consecutive win Brown saddled on the card and fifth overall. Off at 3-1, he was the lone non-favorite winner on the day for the four-time Eclipse Award winner, returning $8.90 on a $2 win wager. Pocket Square [$2.30] won Race 3, Digital Future [$4.20] was the Race 5 winner, Gandy Dancing [Race 7, $6.50] and Winter Pool [Race 8, $4.50] also earned winners' circle trips.

“It's one of those things that I put in the pile of highlights of my career so far,” Brown said. “Five really diverse winners, too. Long, short, dirt, turf. My team and my horses were able to showcase today. When the weather is right and the horses are there, we can get the job done with any type of horse. It was really on display today.”

Ortiz, Jr. teamed with Brown for three of his wins, riding Pocket Square and Digital Future. The veteran rider won his fourth career John's Call after posting three straight victories from 2015-17.

“I got a perfect trip,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “Honestly, I saved all the ground. I was outside and by the first turn I was already on the rail. He broke so good I was already in position right there. I saved as much ground as I could. I had to move a little early because they opened up a little bit on me but he was catching up, little by little. He's not the kind of horse that you're going to ask and he's going to respond right away. He takes some time, so I started moving a little early. When I hit him, he let me know that I had some horse, and when I tipped him out, he just went on from there.”

Ry's the Guy, trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Luis Saez, bested Argentinian-bred Fantasioso by two lengths for second.

“We had a pretty nice trip,” Saez said. “We broke from there and we had some pressure early. I guess that was the plan. I had to take a little hold. He went pretty quick, but he still ran big. I'm pretty happy with him. He was very tired but he tried hard.”

Shamrocket, the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth. Ajournettofreedom, Red Knight and Conviction Trade completed the order of finish. Moretti, entered for the main track only, scratched.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Saratoga with a 10-race card featuring the $120,000 Riskaverse for 3-year-old fillies who have not won a stakes at one mile or over in 2021 in Race 9 at 5:39 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:05 p.m.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Saratoga Race Course, and the best way to bet every race of the 40-day summer meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.

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Brown Trainees Headline Riskaverse At Saratoga

Trainer Chad Brown will send out three fillies against an evenly matched field built for Thursday's 12th running of the $120,000 Riskaverse, a one-mile event over the Saratoga Race Course inner turf for sophomore fillies who have not won a stakes at one mile or over. Saratoga Race Course is located in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The Riskaverse pays homage to Fox Ridge Farm's multiple Grade 1-winning mare, trained by Patrick Kelly, who became the first horse to score back-to-back triumphs in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl [2004-05]. The talented daughter of prominent turf stallion Dynaformer retired with earnings in excess of $2 million and a significant resume which also included triumphs in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and the Grade 2 Sands Point at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., both in 2002.

Brown captured the Riskaverse with subsequent Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Dayatthespa [2012] and Catch a Bid [2019].

Peter Brant's Rastafara will look to defeat winners for the first time. After two on-the-board efforts, the daughter of Shamardal graduated at third asking against impressive next-out winner Baby Blythe on July 24 going the Riskaverse distance over Saratoga's inner turf.

“She ran really well and finally broke though and got her maiden broken last time,” Brown said. “We've always thought a lot of her. She'll have to step it up again but it seems like the right spot for her.”

Irad Ortiz, Jr. will seek a fourth Riskaverse conquest when piloting Rastafara from post 7.

Minaun and Amy C will attempt to make amends after finishing a respective fifth and sixth in the Grade 3 Lake George on July 23 at the Spa, which was won by the Brown-trained Technical Analysis.

Owned by Bradley Thoroughbreds, Iris Smith Stable, and Rigney Racing, Minaun was four lengths back in upper stretch racing three-wide, but finished 3 ½ lengths behind the winner last out. A winner of the Group 3 Marble Hill last July at The Curragh, the Irish-bred daughter of Zoffany won her first start for Brown off a nine-month respite going one mile over the Widener turf course at Belmont Park on April 30 ahead of a close second in the Wild Applause on June 26 at Belmont.

Jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. picks up the mount from post 11.

Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Robert V. LaPenta's Amy C, a British-bred daughter of Charming Thought, won her North American debut on June 25 at Belmont Park before finishing sixth as the second choice in the Grade 3 Lake George.

Jockey Manny Franco will ride from post 9.

Chiefswood Stables' Third Draft makes her stakes debut off a sharp triumph in an allowance optional claiming tilt over the inner turf for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey.

The gray or roan daughter of multiple champion-producing sire Curlin, out of Ontario-bred stakes-winning Malibu Moon mare Original Script, defeated a group of winners last out that included graded stakes placed Magisterium and Amalfi Princess. She trailed the eight-horse field down the backstretch and made a sweeping wide move in upper stretch to get her nose on the wire in the final jumps.

After finishing behind subsequent stakes winners Technical Analysis and Munnyfor Ro at maiden level, fifth time was the charm for Third Draft in a 1 1/16-mile maiden event on May 8 over the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

“She's been pretty consistent, and I've liked her races,” said McGaughey, who won the 2016 Riskaverse with On Leave. “Her last two have been really good and I'm looking forward to running her in the Riskaverse. She wants to run farther than a mile, so hopefully this can set her up for something later on.”

Jockey Jose Ortiz retains the mount from post 4.

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Hoolie Racing Stable and Madaket Stable's Hit the Woah will try to regain winning form for trainer Christophe Clement. The black type earning daughter of Vancouver was a 1 ¼-length winner of an off-the-turf maiden tilt on November 13 at Aqueduct, where she defeated next-out winners Amalfi Princess and Into Vanishing.

Although winless in two starts on grass, Hit the Woah made good showings both times when third in the Sanibel Island on March 27 at Gulfstream Park and seventh beaten 1 ¾ lengths to stablemate Bye Bye in the Grade 3 Soaring Softly on May 15 at Belmont.

She enters from an off-the-board effort in a main-track allowance at Parx in Bensalem, Penn., on June 30.

“She's in very good form and training forwardly,” Clement said. “Last time, we tried the dirt and that didn't work. At the moment this is the right spot for her.”

Jockey Joel Rosario will ride from post 8.

Trainer Brendan Walsh will send out Keeper of Time for her North American debut. The Bradley Thoroughbreds-owned daughter of Mehmas was a last out 80-1 upset winner of the Group 3 1000 Guineas Trial on April 11 at Leopardstown.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will ride Keeper of Time from post 2.

Completing the field are Magisterium [post 1, Dylan Davis], Stand By You [post 3, Javier Castellano], Triple Digit [post 5, Jose Lezcano], Designer Ready [post 6, Junior Alvarado] and Love and Money [post 10, Luis Saez].

The Riskaverse is carded as Race 9 on Thursday's 10-race program. First post is 1:05 p.m. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the summer meet on FOX Sports. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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Brown Prepares Miles D For Travers, Prat To Ride

Trainer Chad Brown said Peter Brant's Miles D will race in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 28 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., where he will be ridden by jockey Flavien Prat.

Second to Dynamic One in the Curlin last out on July 30, a race named after his multiple champion-producing sire, Miles D broke his maiden by 2 ¼ lengths off seven month's rest going a one-turn mile on June 12 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

In his debut on October 11 at Belmont Park, Miles D was a close fourth behind subsequent stakes winner Caddo River and multiple graded stakes winner Greatest Honour. The winner of that event, Speaker's Corner, defeated winners on Saturday.

Miles D breezed a half-mile Saturday in :50.04 over the Saratoga main track.

“He's going to have to take a big step forward in the Travers, but he's training well,” Brown said.

On Saturday, Brown sent multiple Grade 1-winner Domestic Spending to Arlington Park for the Grade 1 Mister D., a race formerly known as the Arlington Million. Sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite, the consistent son of Kingman tracked slow fractions set by Two Emmys and closed late to finish second beaten a neck behind the pacesetter.

Domestic Spending, owned by Klaravich Stables, secured three Grade 1 victories entering the Mister D. when capturing the Hollywood Derby on November 28 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., and arrived at nearly six month's rest to dead heat with Colonel Liam in the Bourbon Turf Classic on May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. From there, he conquered the Manhattan on June 5 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

“I'm not sure if I'm going to train him up to the Breeders' Cup or not, we'll get him back home and see how he's doing,” Brown said.

Jeff Drown's New York-bred maiden winner Key Point won on debut going six furlongs on August 12 over the Spa main track. The son of Into Mischief registered an 82 Beyer for the victory.

“We're going to see how he comes out of the race and get him back under tack, but so far so good. We'll point to something at Belmont,” Brown said.

Brown sent out a handful of horses for turf works over the Oklahoma training turf on Sunday morning, including Rockemperor, who went a half-mile in :48.60 seconds in company with Flighty Lady.

Brown said Rockemperor, second to Cross Border in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 31 last out, will point to the $600,000 Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Invitational on August 28.

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Miles D to Travers

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY–Miles D (Curlin) proved himself to be graded stakes-worthy in the Curlin S. and trainer Chad Brown is aiming for Saratoga's biggest prize, the GI Runhappy Travers on Aug. 28.

“We're headed to that race,” Brown said. “We'll see how he works leading up to it, but I'm planning on taking a shot in that race.”

Brown said that Miles D, co-owned by Peter Brant and Robert LaPenta, will return to the worktab at Saratoga this weekend, probably on Saturday morning.

Miles D was a solid second to Dynamic One (Union Rags) in the 1 1/8 miles Curlin, the third start of his career and first try in stakes company. Under Joel Rosario, he was reserved early, cruised into contention and to the lead in the stretch, but could not handle Dynamic One's last-to-first move. Dynamic One, making his first start for Todd Pletcher since running 18th in the GI Kentucky Derby, prevailed by 1 3/4 lengths. Miles D was seven lengths in front of the 6-5 favorite First Captain.

“That is a race that when he went in, I expected him to win. The horse was training that good,” Brown said. “I looked at the field, and said, 'there are some more experienced horses in here,' but I thought he could handle that group. He ran super. He just got beat by a horse that has some back class. A nice horse. Todd has brought a lot of them over. The winner has been through the Triple Crown. There is no disgrace getting beat by a horse like that. You can see (Miles D) ran to the wire. Keep going to the Travers.”

Brant and LaPenta acquired Miles D as a yearling for $470,000 at Keeneland September 2019. He is the first foal out of the unraced Sound the Trumpets (Bernardini) from one of the Phipps Stable's exceptional female families. Sound of Trumpets's third dam is 1988 Broodmare of the Year Grecian Banner (Hoist the Flag), who produced the unbeaten Hall of Famer Personal Ensign (Private Account) and her full brother GI winner Personal Flag. As the daughter of Personal Ensign's daughter, My Flag (Easy Goer), a four-time Grade I winner, she is a half-sister to champion Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat).

Hill 'n Dale purchased Sound of Trumpets for $280,000 at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale and sold her in foal to Curlin a year later to River Bend Farm for $675,000.

Brown prepped Miles D for his 2-year-old debut last year. He did not make it to the races until Oct. 11 at Belmont Park and ended up fourth in a seven-furlong test and was not seen again for eight months.

“I always thought he was our best prospect for 3-year-old dirt horse for the next year,” Brown said. “He got hurt in his maiden race last year and it took a long time to get him back. He's doing really good. He's got some catch-up to do.”

Miles D broke his maiden in a one-turn mile at Belmont Park on June 12. Brown sent him directly to the Curlin, run on July 30, the day before the GII Jim Dandy, the traditional local prep for the Travers. Essential Quality (Tapit), the GI Belmont Stakes winner, who was the 2-year-old male champion in 2020, won the Jim Dandy and is heading to the Travers.

“Obviously, there is one horse that stands out in there,” Brown said, without naming Essential Quality, “that if he runs anywhere near close to one of his best races everyone is running for second. It's Saratoga, so anything can happen. I'm going to head toward the race and see how he develops. Hopefully this horse can give a good account of himself.”

Though Miles D did not give him the victory he expected, Brown said the Curlin was an important step.

“He definitely got some valuable experience for a lightly-raced horse,” Brown said. “Remember, it was his first time going two turns. It's an education. He got a little bit more fitness doing that. So I think we're set up here to run his best race, the next one, but if it's good enough or not remains to be seen. He's going to have to really jump forward in his numbers to win a race like that. But I want to give him a chance again, if he's training good.”

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