Jack Christopher Leads Breeders' Cup Workers for Brown

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Jack Christopher Leads Breeders' Cup Workers for Brown
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Chad Brown is feeling optimistic about his contingent for the upcoming Breeders' Cup World Championships

Before winning the two graded stakes in North America Oct. 16—the Sands Point Stakes (G2T) at Belmont Park with Fluffy Socks  and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana (G1T) at Keeneland with Shantisara —trainer Chad Brown got to work readying his horses for the Breeders' Cup.

He breezed a number of his leading prospects Saturday morning at Belmont Park, including Champagne Stakes (G1) winner Jack Christopher , who worked a half-mile in :49.05.

Brown, a 15-time Breeders' Cup winner and four-time Eclipse Award winner, said Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant's well-regarded Munnings   chestnut is on target for the Nov. 5 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Del Mar.

"He was great. He was in control the entire way and galloped out super. He came back good," Brown said. 

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Jack Christopher wins the 2021 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Dom Napolitano
Jack Christopher returns to the winner's circle after taking the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park

Brown said he's feeling optimistic about his Breeders' Cup contingent, a number of which breezed over the inner turf Saturday at Belmont.

"A lot of them are coming into the race well," Brown said. "These are tough races we're going in. The Breeders' Cup races are always that way but we have some shots in a number of races, so we'll see."

Klaravich Stables' multiple grade 1 winner Domestic Spending  breezed five-eighths in 1:01.85 in company with Brant's multiple grade 1 winner Raging Bull  . 

"They went excellent this morning. Both horses are on target for the Breeders' Cup," the trainer said.

Domestic Spending, a 4-year-old Kingman  gelding pointed to the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), completed his sophomore season with a win in the Hollywood Derby (G1T) in November at Del Mar.

He returned on May 1 to dead heat for victory with Colonel Liam  in the Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (G1T) at Churchill Downs and completed a grade 1 triple with a 2 3/4-length score over stablemate Tribhuvan  in the Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes (G1T) at Belmont. Most recently, he was upset when second in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1T) Aug. 14 at Arlington International Racecourse. 

"He breezed great today and galloped out strong. He's very fit," Brown said.

Domestic Spending is one of three Breeders' Cup Turf contenders for Brown along with Tribhuvan and recent Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) winner Rockemperor . 

Brown said Tribhuvan (1:00.50) worked well Saturday morning, traveling in company with group 2-placed filly Nazuna  (1:00.40). 

Raging Bull, a 6-year-old son of Dark Angel , is pointed to the FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) following a closing third in the Sept. 18 Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) on good turf. He was 10th in the Breeders' Cup Mile in 2020 at Keeneland.

"He's looking for really fast ground and I expect to get that at Del Mar," Brown said.

November 4, 2020: Raging Bull
Photo: Rick Samuels
Raging Bull trains for the 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland

Brown noted that he would pre-enter Blowout , recent winner of the First Lady Stakes Presented by UK Healthcare (G1T) at Keeneland, to the Mile. She qualified for the 1 3/8-mile Maker's Maker Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with that victory but is better suited to shorter distances.

Brant's My Sister Nat  (:49.23) and Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Caruso's Orglandes  (:49.26) worked a half-mile in company over the inner turf. 

My Sister Nat captured the 1 3/8-mile Fasig-Tipton Waya Stakes (G3T) last out Oct. 3 at Belmont and will travel the same distance at Del Mar Nov. 6 in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Juddmonte's Pocket Square  (1:02.02), also on target for the Filly & Mare Turf, worked five-eighths in company with Swift Thoroughbreds, Madaket Stables, and Wonder Stables' Tamahere  (1:02.11) over the inner turf. 

Pocket Square, a winner in five of nine starts, captured the Athenia Stakes (G3T) at 1 1/8 miles over good Belmont turf Sept. 25.

"The filly is training pretty good. I'm going to pre-enter her in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and see what it looks like," Brown said. "Her last race really changed my mind about her. I thought she ran good at that distance and the way she galloped out steady.

"If she's good enough or not, I'm not sure," he added. "It's not a definite she's going but I want to take a look at it and see."

Tamahere, last-out winner of the Violet Stakes over yielding Monmouth Park turf Sept. 25, is pointed to the Oct. 23 Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T).

Klaravich Stables' Portfolio Company , a 2-year-old Kitten's Joy   bay, breezed a half-mile in :49.41 in company with General Ken , a recent private purchase for an ownership group led by Louis Lazzinnaro. 

A maiden winner, Portfolio Company finished second in both the With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) in September at Saratoga Race Course and the Pilgrim Stakes (G2T) last out Oct. 3 at Belmont. He is targeting the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T), while General Ken will race next in the Awad Stakes, a $100,000 test Oct. 31 at Belmont.

Numerous other Breeders' Cup runners breezed Saturday across the country. Out west at Santa Anita Park, Qatar Racing Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) hopeful Dr. Schivel  sped a half-mile in :49 4/5 for trainer Mark Glatt, and the Richard Baltas-trained Idol  and Doug O'Neill-trained Hot Rod Charlie  logged workouts in preparation for the Longines Breeders Cup Classic (G1). Idol traveled a half-mile in :47 4/5, Hot Rod Charlie six furlongs in 1:14.

Also Saturday morning, Classic favorites Knicks Go   and Essential Quality  breezed at Churchill Downs for trainer Brad Cox. Knicks Go worked an easy half-mile in :49 3/5, while Essential Quality breezed five furlongs in 1:01.