New and Improved Becomes Brown's Newest Stakes Winner

As misleading as names in Thoroughbred racing can often be, Klaravich Stables' New and Improved is surely living up to her moniker, as the 3-year-old filly became a graded stakes winner in just her third start Oct. 12 at Belmont Park.

The daughter of Cairo Prince  shrugged off a fourth place in her stakes debut, overcoming another awkward start and rallying from last in a field of seven 3-year-old fillies to capture the $203,200 Sands Point Stakes (G2T) by a half-length over Feel Glorious.

"New and Improved really ran well. We always had high hopes for her," trainer Chad Brown said after his third win in the last six runnings of the race.

In her first two starts, New and Improved acted like a magnet in the metal starting gate, brushing it when she charged from eighth to win her debut by a length July 28 at Saratoga Race Course. Wheeled back in the Aug. 22 Riskaverse Stakes at the Spa, she again hit the gate and was last in the field of six before closing to grab fourth, just 1 3/4 lengths behind the winner in the one-mile turf stakes.

In the nine-furlong Sands Point, she broke slowly again and was 10 lengths back in seventh after the opening quarter-mile, as 11-1 shot Souper Escape carved out leisurely fractions of :24.28 and :49.10 on the firm turf.

It looked as though New and Improved was facing a tough assignment, but jockey Joel Rosario wasn't worried.

"She was comfortable where she was, and the pace was fine. She relaxed for me," he said. "Turning for home, I tapped her a little bit, and she got into the bridle and got better and better and then put in a good run. I didn't want to start her too early."

Rosario swung New and Improved about six paths wide on the final turn, and she quickly kicked into high gear. Souper Escape was still in front at the eighth pole, but she was gassed. Near the sixteenth pole, Souper Escape was passed by Feel Glorious, who was sixth early.

Yet no sooner did Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform's daughter of Bated Breath poke a head in front than New and Improved and Rosario surged past her and edged away.

Sent off as an 8-5 favorite, New and Improved covered the distance in 1:48.44. She paid $5.20.

"She started out late in the year, and she took a fair amount of patience to get her to the races. My whole team really did a fantastic job with her. She was down at Stonestreet in Ocala (Fla.) for quite a while, and Ian Brennan really did a good job with her for us," Brown said at Keeneland, where he won the $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Lane's End (G1T) with OXO Equine's Cambier Parc. "She had a lot of minor setbacks. He finally got her right for us. She's had a really good year and second half of the year staying sound and starting her career off the right way."

Brown said the American Oaks (G1T) at Santa Anita Park in December could be next for his new and improved graded stakes winner who was purchased by agent Mike Ryan for $320,000 from the Eaton Sales consignment at the 2017 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Bred by Sun Valley Farm out of the Giant's Causeway mare High Style, she has earned $165,500.

Trainer Christophe Clement was also encouraged by Feel Glorious' game effort. The runner-up finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Godolphin Racing's Romantic Pursuit.

"She's been a very honest filly," Clement said. "She's been a very pleasant surprise."

Earlier on the card, Backwards Stable's homebred Fire Key ($6.20) prevailed in a tight, five-horse finish to take the $102,760 Floral Park Stakes by a neck over Goldwood. 

Fear No Evil was a head back in third in the six-furlong turf stakes, with Dynatail a nose behind in fourth and Lady Mamba a neck back in fifth in the field of six.

The win was the ninth in 33 starts for the New York-bred daughter of Friesan Fire  who has earned $735,910. The James Ryerson trainee was timed in 1:08.29.

- Additional reporting by Claire Crosby