Brown Readies Early Voting, Zandon for Key Derby Preps

Klaravich Stables' Early Voting  breezed March 18 in preparation for the April 9 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) on April 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack, covering a half-mile in :48.47 over the Belmont Park training track. He worked in tandem with stablemate and last year's Withers (G3) winner Risk Taking . 

EARLY VOTING (outside) in company with RISK TAKING out for a half-mile breeze in 48.47 seconds for @TheRealChadCBr1 pic.twitter.com/rG56DIszxs

— Ryan Martin (@RyanMartinNYRA) March 18, 2022

The 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial is Aqueduct's final Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifier, offering 100-40-20-10 points to the top-four finishers. Early Voting is currently 23rd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 10 points earned from his Withers score.

"The horse is coming along really well," said trainer Chad Brown. "He's been doing well since the Withers and he's been doing everything the right way. He's still on track for the Wood."

Unbeaten in two starts, Early Voting captured his debut going a one-turn mile Dec. 18 at Aqueduct before capturing the Withers by 4 1/2 lengths over Un Ojo , the next-out winner of the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park. 

Grantham , fourth in the Withers, came back to run second in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 12. 

"It was great for him to finish ahead of those horses in only his second start. As a trainer, it gives you a lot of confidence coming out of a key race," Brown said. 

A son of last year's leading freshman sire Gun Runner  , Early Voting was bought for $200,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is out of the unraced Tiznow mare Amour d'Ete , a half sister to 2004 champion sprinter and influential stallion Speightstown  .

Brown's other top Derby hopeful, Jeff Drown's Zandon , remains on target for the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 9 at Keeneland, which also offers 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The Upstart   sophomore made his 2022 debut in the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) Feb. 19 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, finishing third after breaking poorly.

"He missed the break, but I was happy to see him persevere. He got a lot out of the race fitness wise," Brown said. 

A debut winner in October at Belmont, Zandon was narrowly beaten in the Remsen Stakes (G2) in December at Aqueduct, beaten a nose by Mo Donegal , another possible Wood starter.

His two competitive stakes efforts earned Zandon a collective 14 points on the Derby trail, leaving him 14th on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard. 

Brown sent out Highly Motivated  to finish second in last year's Blue Grass behind eventual champion 3-year-old Essential Quality  . Unraced since finishing 10th in last year's Kentucky Derby, Highly Motivated has worked consistently for Brown at Payson Park Training Center in Florida. Brown said the son of Into Mischief   should be ready to return to action in April.

Also possible for a start next month is Klaravich Stables' Reinvestment Risk  in the Carter Handicap (G1), which like the Wood, is April 9 at Aqueduct. The 4-year-old son of Upstart registered a career-best 107 Equibase Speed Figure for a last-out winning effort in an allowance optional claimer in February at Gulfstream Park. 

Reinvestment Risk was placed as a juvenile behind Jackie's Warrior  in the Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park before finishing 10th in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) at Keeneland. He made one start last year, finishing a distant third to eventual stakes winners Following Sea  and Wudda U Think Now  in a June allowance event at Belmont.