“I'm not one to send my horses to other continents to run. I like to stick to my circuits. But that race has been on my mind with the right style of horse,” Brown said. “This might be the kind of horse that fits for me trying one of those races. Although he's had a couple of hard races, he is lightly raced. If you look at his record, he hasn't had that many starts. He didn't have to do battle in the Triple Crown, and he doesn't have a ton of miles on him.”

A son of multiple champion producing stallion Curlin, Miles D collared heavy favorite Speaker's Corner in the stretch drive of the Discovery, a nine-furlong test for sophomores, registering a career-best 102 Beyer Speed Figure. The win followed a hard-fought first-level allowance score against older company on October 24 going 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Miles D sports a consistent ledger of 6-3-1-1, including a stakes placing in his sire's namesake race on July 30 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., en route to a third in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 28.

Brown said Miles D is not likely to target the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 29 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., a race expected to attract reigning Breeders' Cup champions Knicks Go [Classic] and Life Is Good [Dirt Mile].

“I have to talk to the owners about it. I'm not really sure,” Brown said. “I'm not so much interested in the Pegasus against those two horses. I'll get him down there and see. There's definitely a pace scenario to consider as well. If I race in big races in the wintertime, it's horses that are lightly raced. With horses that have had long campaigns, I don't care how much money they offer me at any track. I don't really run them too much. This horse, there's a possibility that we keep on going with him.”

Brown said Miles D could be a force to be reckoned with next year in the older horse division.

“If he takes another step forward next year, runs in all the handicap races, and has success in one or more of them, he has a lot of stallion potential. Races like the Whitney or the Jockey Club are ones that would matter to me quite a bit,” Brown said.

Miles D was fourth on debut last October at Belmont in what turned out to be a key maiden race, finishing behind Speaker's Corner as well as subsequent stakes winners Caddo River and Greatest Honour.

Brown credited both his team and owners for allowing a patient approach with the horse.

“It's taken a lot of patience by our team and our two owners. They never questioned giving him a little time,” Brown said.

Named after the late influential jazz musician Miles Davis, Miles D is out of the unraced Bernardini broodmare Sound the Trumpets, whose first dam is multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire My Flag and second dam is undefeated Hall of Fame champion Personal Ensign. Miles D was acquired for $470,000 from the Denali Stud consignment at the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Brown went on to report that Klaravich Stables' Forced Ranking will not make this Saturday's Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct after spiking a temperature. He will still, however, saddle Jeff Drown's maiden winner Zandon, who breezed a half-mile in :49.82 Sunday over the Belmont dirt training track.

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Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth, piloted by Jose Ortiz, set a moderate tempo with Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Robert V. LaPenta's Shantisara stalking outside in second position under Flavien Prat over the firm turf.

Higher Truth kicked on at the top of the lane but could not fend off her stablemate, who earned the half-length score in a final time of 2:16.91.

“It was a really good race and it's a shame one of them had to lose because they both ran their hearts out. I was proud of both of their efforts,” Brown said.

Shantisara, by Coulsty, made her first five starts in France before being transferred to Brown and making her North American debut with a runner-up effort in the Boiling Springs in June at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J. She entered from a convincing three-length score under Prat in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Pucker Up in August at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

Higher Truth competed in all three legs of the Turf Triple, missing by a half-length when third in the Belmont Oaks, and was a game second, defeated less than a length, in the Saratoga Oaks.

Brown said he would speak with the ownership groups of both horses to see if they want to race once more this season.

Peter Brant and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' So Enchanting, a 3-year-old daughter of More Than Ready, graduated at fifth asking on the Saturday undercard to improve her record to 5-1-3-1.

With Irad Ortiz, Jr. up, the Kentucky-bred chestnut stalked in fourth position in the 1 1/16-mile turf test before engaging with pacesetter Miss Bonnie T at the eighth pole, taking command in the final sixteenth for a three-quarter length score.

So Enchanting, who was stretching out beyond one mile for the first time, has kept good company through five starts, including runner-up efforts sprinting six furlongs on the Belmont turf to launch her career, finishing in front of eventual stakes winners Bay Storm [on October 3] and Miss Brazil [on October 25].

“We always thought she had plenty of ability,” Brown said. “She stretched out nicely to a mile and a sixteenth which was good to see. She got a great trip yesterday. I was happy for her to break through and get the maiden win out of the way.”

Peter Brant's multiple Grade 1-winner Raging Bull closed to finish third under Frankie Dettori in Saturday's Grade 1 Woodbine Mile at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, contested over good going on the E. P. Taylor Turf Course.

“He didn't really handle the course. Frankie said he was struggling a little bit on the turn and lost some position there,” Brown said. “I was proud of him that he kicked in again when he got to the center of the track in the stretch. He found some firmer ground and kicked on.”

Raging Bull, a 6-year-old French-bred son of Dark Angel, boasts a record of 21-7-4-4 with purse earnings in excess of $1.6 million.

“If he comes out of it well I'm planning on making the final start of his career in the Breeders' Cup Mile,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending and the Brant-owned Flop Shot breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 in company Sunday on the Belmont inner turf.

Domestic Spending, a three-time Grade 1 winner, finished second last out in the Grade 1 Mr. D. on August 14 at Arlington Park. Brown said the 4-year-old Kingman gelding is likely to make his next start in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf in November at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif.

“They went fine. It was a good work for both of them,” Brown said.

Flop Shot, a 5-year-old son of New Approach, won the 2019 Group 3 Prix de Guiche in France for his former conditioner Andre Fabre. He last raced in June 2020, finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Fort Marcy.

Brown said Flop Shot was gelded earlier this year and is close to a return to action.

Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister's impressive maiden winner Jack Christopher breezed five-eighths in company in 1:01.05 Saturday on the main track in preparation for the $500,000 Grade 1 Champagne, a one-turn mile offering a “Win and You're In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The Munnings chestnut, purchased for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale, registered a 92 Beyer for a romping 8 3/4-length score on debut in a six-furlong maiden special weight on August 28 at Saratoga.

“He went well in company with a maiden. He's done everything right and settled into Belmont nicely,” Brown said.

Brown said the added distance shouldn't be an issue for the talented chestnut.

“It's still just one turn, so I think he'll be OK. I like the way he's training,” Brown said.

Peter Brant and Robert V. LaPenta's graded-stakes placed Miles D breezed a bullet half-mile in :47.84 Saturday in Saratoga on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

A maiden winner in June at Belmont, the Curlin sophomore followed with a runner-up effort to Dynamic One in the nine-furlong Curlin and was third last out in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers.

Brown said Miles D will not start in next weekend's Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby and that he will look for other options.

“I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him yet. I'd like to give him a little bit more time,” Brown said.

Klaravich Stables' Public Sector worked a half-mile in :49.12 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track. Brown said the Kingman sophomore, who won the Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame and the Grade 3 Saranac at the Spa this summer, is probable for the $400,000 Grade 2 Hill Prince, a nine-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds on October 23.

W.S. Farish homebred Royal Flag, a 5-year-old multiple graded-stakes winning daughter of Candy Ride, worked a half-mile in :48.70 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track.

Royal Flag won the Grade 3 Shuvee in July and closed to finish third in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign in August this summer at the Spa.

Brown said the chestnut, who sports a ledger of 11-5-3-2 with purse earnings of $435,520, will point to either the $250,000 Grade 2 Beldame on October 10 at Belmont or the Grade 1 Spinster on October 10 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., which offers a “Win and You're In” berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

“This will be her last year of running. She's at the top of her game right now as a 5-year-old,” Brown said. “It would be nice to get her a Grade 1.”

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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.

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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Owned by Moquett in partnership with Robert V. LaPenta and Head of Plains Partners, the seven-time graded stakes winner rated in between horses down the backstretch while taking some kickback. Whitmore made a menacing move in the upper stretch when switching to the outside and gained on frontrunners Lexitonian and Special Reserve, but came up 1 ¾ lengths shy of victory.

The 8-year-old veteran captured the 2018 running of the seven-furlong G1 Forego over eventual Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile winner City of Light.

“We're looking at the Forego,” Moquett said. “I was very proud of how he came back out of the race. Obviously, we'll pay attention to him the next week or so and see if he's up for it, but that's what we're hoping for.”

Still in search of his first victory this year, Whitmore has finished in the money in all four starts, which consists of runner-up efforts at Oaklawn Park in the Hot Springs on March 13, which he won from 2017-21, and Grade 3 Count Fleet on April 10, a race he won in 2017-18 and 2020. He arrived at the Vanderbilt off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs.

Moquett said taking dirt down the backstretch didn't do Whitmore any favors.

“I'm sure it didn't help. He's sensitive about his eyes so that may have been why he decided to run outside instead of through the rail, but it looked like a lot of horses were taking kickback,” Moquett said.

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The bay sophomore son of Kitten's Joy previously showed tactical speed, laying in second at every call down the backstretch in his five prior starts before the Belmont Derby.

After a first-out maiden win in October at Belmont Park and a second-place finish in the Central Park at Aqueduct the following month, Hard Love returned to action with vigor when taking the Woodhaven on April 17 at the Big A. In capturing the 1 1/16-mile event, he defeated subsequent stakes winners It's a Gamble and Original as well as Sifting Sands, an impressive allowance winner on Saturday at Saratoga.

Following the Woodhaven, Hard Love defeated a salty group of elders in a nine-furlong allowance event at Belmont Park ahead of the Belmont Derby.

“It's a goal along with some other things, but we'll just let the horse dictate in his training what we're going to do with him, but we're certainly going to keep an eye on it,” Thomas said.

Thomas said Hard Love, who was piloted by Manny Franco, could have been a little more aggressive earlier in the race. He also added that the Belmont Derby winner and Saratoga Derby invitee Bolshoi Ballet is in a league of his own.

“Hindsight is always 20-20 and I wish I had asked Manny to be a little more assertive,” Thomas said. “He went 1:17 for three-quarters and slowed it down. He doesn't possess a massive turn of foot so ideally; we would have gone on a little bit. Another thing is that it was a different group of horses. The winner was exceptional, so not taking anything away from the field. You could even make a case that the filly [Santa Barbara] could have won the Belmont Derby had she run. They were legitimate horses.”

Thomas said Hard Love is likely to appear on the work tab next weekend.

“He just shipped up [Saturday] and possibly will be back on the work tab next week depending on how the weather treats us,” Thomas said.

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The restricted stakes outing for 3-year-olds who have not won a stakes race over one mile in 2021 is named in honor of the 2007-08 Horse of the Year who became the first North American thoroughbred to reach the $10 million earnings mark. Through a record of 16-11-2-2, Curlin captured the 2007 Preakness, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Breeders' Cup Classic during his 3-year-old campaign before adding four more Grade 1 events to his ledger in the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Woodward, and Jockey Club Gold Cup the following year.

First Captain will look to become the second Curlin offspring to capture his sire's namesake race after Connect won in 2013. Since breaking his maiden at seven furlongs by three-quarters of a length over next-out winner Mahaamel in April at Belmont Park, First Captain scored once more against winners five weeks later over Big Sandy going a one-turn mile.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey entered First Captain for his first stakes test last out in the Grade 3 Dwyer on July 5 at Belmont Park, and he handled the class boost with flying colors, capturing the one-turn mile by 1 ¾ lengths.

“He is doing really well up here,” McGaughey said. “He lost his whole 2-year-old year so he's still behind, but he's trying to catch up. I think that his last race was good and he certainly likes this track here. I'm looking forward to it. We have been taking it one step at a time.”

First Captain is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Woodford Racing, and celebrity culinary artist Bobby Flay, the latter of whom also bred the chestnut colt.

Purchased for $1.5 million from the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale, First Captain is out of the graded stakes-winning and Grade 1-placed A.P. Indy broodmare America and hails from the prestigious line of blue hen mare Best in Show, whose descendants include Belmont Stakes winners Jazil and Rags to Riches as well as multiple Group 1-winning Irish champion distaffer Peeping Fawn.

Jockey Jose Ortiz, who guided 2019 Curlin victor Highest Honors, retains the mount from post 4.

Three Chimneys Farm and e Five Thoroughbreds' Collaborate seeks to live up to the hype he garnered following an astonishing 12 ½-length maiden romp on February 27 at a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla. The son of Into Mischief followed with a distant fifth in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Florida Derby for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr.

After a significant cutback in distance when third to stablemate Moonlite Strike in the 6 ½-furlong Roar on May 15, Collaborate defeated winners in a one-mile allowance on June 20, both at Gulfstream Park.

“The Florida Derby was a bit disappointing; but it was probably a bit quick back also,” Joseph, Jr. said. “He ran third after that. We did a minor throat procedure on him and thought we saw the right horse last time going a mile again. I'm hoping to build on that. The Curlin will be a big test.”

Collaborate is out of the graded stakes-winning Quiet American mare Quiet Temper and was bought for $600,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post 6.

Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One is the lone Kentucky Derby alumni in the Curlin field and has not raced since finishing 18th in the 'Run for the Roses.'

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Union Rags broke his maiden at fourth asking at nine furlongs on March 7 at Aqueduct.

“He got a good freshening after the Derby, and we've been thinking about the Curlin since then,” said Pletcher, who previously saddled Turbo Compressor [2011] and Outplay [2017] to Curlin scores. “He's trained accordingly, and we'll see if he can make a move forward. He and [Kentucky Oaks winner] Malathaat trained quite a bit together at Belmont and made good companions on a similar schedule.”

Dynamic One registered his final work for the Curlin on Friday, breezing five furlongs in 1:02.20 over the Oklahoma training track.

“I thought he handled it fine,” Pletcher said of the breeze. “He's always been a good work horse and trained really well. He's still putting it all together. Hopefully, as he continues to mature, he will continue to improve.”

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. has the call from post 7.

Susan Quick and Christopher Feifarek's Beren arrives at the Curlin as the most seasoned horse in the field with ten starts and brings three consecutive stakes victories into the race for trainer Butch Reid, Jr.

The son of Weigelia, a previous track record holder at Belmont Park for six furlongs over the inner turf [1:07.04 on June 17, 2006], captured the Gold Fever and an off-the-turf edition of the Paradise Creek over Big Sandy before beating his Pennsylvania-bred counterparts in the Crowd Pleaser on June 22 at Parx Racing.

Reid, Jr. said Beren, who breezed a bullet half-mile in :46.60 seconds Friday over the Saratoga main track, could cross-enter in the $200,000 Grade 2 Amsterdam on August 1 going 6 ½ furlongs.

“We may end up cross-entering in the Amsterdam. He breezed awful fast the other day and I'm not sure that's conducive to going a mile and eighth the way he breezed. He came out of it great and hasn't missed an oat. He's doing very well,” Reid, Jr. said. “My inclination is to keep him around two turns, but the way he breezed the other day, it looks like he really handled the track well. He gives you options, that's for sure.”

Reid, Jr. did not rule out starting Beren on turf at some point.

“We wanted to try the turf with him too, but that one rained off,” Reid, Jr. said. “His father was the track record holder at Belmont at six furlongs on the turf. His mother, Silmaril, was a multiple-graded-stakes winner. He's very well bred and we have a lot of options. We'll see how he goes the next couple of days and make up our minds.”

Jockey Frankie Pennington retains the mount from post 5.

Trainer Rodolphe Brisset will saddle CHC and WinStar Farm's regally-bred Harvard, a full-brother to 2016 Champion 2-Year-Old Classic Empire who is unbeaten in two starts around two turns.

After making the third time the charm in his two-turn debut in May at Indiana Grand, the son of Pioneerof the Nile bested winners in a nine-furlong allowance race on June 11 at Churchill Downs, which featured next-out winner Dack Janiel's.

Harvard will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 3.

Peter Brant and Robert V. LaPenta's Miles D, a son of Curlin, makes his two-turn debut for trainer Chad Brown after a sharp one-turn mile maiden triumph on June 12 at Belmont Park. The bay colt made his first start since October, when fourth on debut finishing behind Speaker's Corner and stakes-winners Caddo River and Greatest Honour.

Breaking from post 1, Miles D will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

Completing the field is Juddmonte Farms' Snow House, who was previously third in the Grade 3 Dwyer. The bay son of Twirling Candy broke his maiden going a two-turn mile on April 21 at Keeneland Race Course before defeating winners around a one-turn mile on May 29 at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox.

Snow House will break from post 2 under Manny Franco.

The Curlin is slated as Race 9 on Friday's 10-race card, which offers a first post of 1:05 p.m. Eastern. Saratoga Live will present daily television coverage of the 40-day summer meet on FOX Sports and MSG Networks. For the complete Saratoga Live broadcast schedule, and additional programming information, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule.

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The pair of Diana aspirants worked five furlongs in company with Lemista completing her work in bullet time of 1:01.80 outside of Pocket Square, who finished off in 1:01.89.

Owned by Peter Brant, Lemista earned a 100 Beyer in her North American debut in the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 8 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., finishing a late-closing second to Harvey's Lil Goil. The 4-year-old daughter of 2008 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass was a Group 2 winner three starts back at the Curragh over yielding going.

Juddmonte Farm's Pocket Square, a Group 3 winner in France, was impressive in her North American debut on April 7 at Keeneland and subsequently was fifth as the lukewarm favorite in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 at Belmont.

“They both worked well with one another and are going to the Diana,” Brown said. “Lemista has relished the time in between her races. With Pocket Square, I'm drawing a line through the Just a Game. She was lined up so well going into that race and there were things I was hopeful she would be able to overcome, but it didn't quite work out.”

Brown has won the Diana six times, including the past five editions with talented turf distaffers Dacita [2016], Lady Eli [2017], Sistercharlie [2018-19], and Rushing Fall [2020].

On Saturday, Brown sent out Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth for her stakes debut in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, finishing a close third, beaten a half-length to Santa Barbara.

Brown said the daughter of the late Galileo will target the $700,000 Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 8.

“I thought she ran well. I was proud of her effort,” Brown said. “It looked like she was in for a good chance late in the race and picked up a piece of it at the end. We'll probably move on to the next leg [of the Turf Triple series].”

Higher Truth arrived at the Belmont Oaks off two starts at ten furlongs, breaking her maiden by a half-length over the inner turf on April 22 before defeating winners on June 10.

“She's had three mile and a quarter races in a row, so she's gained a lot of experience and fitness,” Brown said. “I think down the road, she'll be able to run even further.”

Brown said he could have at least two fillies for the Saratoga Oaks as Rocky Sky, previously considered for the Belmont Oaks, opted to wait for the second leg.

Owned by Peter Brant, Rocky Sky is a two-time winner in her native Ireland, capturing the ten-furlong Salsabil last out on April 25.

“We thought she would benefit from more time going into the Saratoga Oaks, so that's where she's headed to,” said Brown.

Brown said recent allowance optional claiming winner Amy C will target the $150,000 Grade 3 Lake George, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies on July 13 at the Spa.

Owned by Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb, and Robert V. LaPenta, the 3-year-old daughter of Charming Thought broke her maiden in March at Deauville before shipping to North America.

“It was a nice first time from out of the country for us. It seems like she's ready for a stakes now,” Brown said.

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