Trainer Brown Captures 1,000th Win

New York-based trainer Chad Brown celebrated his 1,000th win Aug 24 when heavily favored Mr Maybe won the $100,000 John's Call Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

Mr Maybe is a 5-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper   owned by partners Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Highclere America, and Bethlehem Stables. The John's Call was his first win of the year and his fifth win overall.

Brown, a native of nearby Mechanicville, N.Y., said it was particularly meaningful to reach the milestone at Saratoga.

"It seems like not long ago I wasn't even in training; I was just in the picnic area with my parents," said Brown, who currently leads the Saratoga trainer standings with 31 wins. "To have a stable of this size, and to be competing at the top level, with so many wonderful co-workers, and clients who have become my friends. This job of mine has totally changed my life. To have 1,000 wins, and have it happen right here at Saratoga, is priceless for me.

"I hoped, I dreamed, I worked hard toward it. But you can never imagine it until it starts to become reality. I've been lucky all along the way to learn from some really great horsemen. I've always tried to surround myself with people who knew what they were doing. I just worked hard. Luckily, I have a wonderful staff around me. I'm a lucky guy. I love getting up and coming to work every day."

Mr Maybe, under a patient ride from Irad Ortiz Jr., took aim at pacesetter My Afleet as the field entered the stretch and galloped past a furlong out to hit the wire in 2:39.21 for the 1 5/8-mile turf race. Ortiz said he was glad to be the one piloting Brown's 1,000th winner.

"I've had a lot of horses for him; I'm happy for him," Ortiz said. "He's a great trainer who does a great job with his horses. He gets up every morning and is a hard worker."

Brown shared credit for Mr Maybe's win with Bruce Jackson at the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, where the horse had been sent to recover from a respiratory infection discovered after following a poor finish in the grade I United Nations Stakes July 3.

"Bruce Jackson co-trained this horse for this race," Brown said. "We have 20 horses with Bruce, and after he was better he sent him up to me. I just breezed him a couple of times and then ran him."

With a major milestone reached, Brown said he's ready for the next one.

"I'm not one to rest on my laurels," he said. "In fact, I have a horse in this next race. We're going for one thousand and one."

Brown didn't win that $47,000 claiming race, but there's always tomorrow.