Brown Looks Ahead With Flintshire, Lady Eli

The morning after he saddled 18 runners on the Travers Day card at Saratoga Race Course, trainer Chad Brown was already looking to the future for Flintshire, Lady Eli, and Sea Calisi.

Flintshire was the star of the day for the Brown barn Aug. 27. The turf sensation won the Longines Sword Dancer Stakes (gr. IT) by 1 3/4 lengths over stablemate Money Multiplier. It was the second consecutive year the Flintshire won the Sword Dancer, and the third time in row that the 6-year-old won for Brown, who saddled him to a victory earlier in the meet in the grade II Bowling Green. In his first start for Brown, the Juddmonte Farms' homebred won the Manhattan (gr. IT) at Belmont Park.

BALAN: Flintshire Dominant Again in Sword Dancer

 

In both the Bowling Green and Sword Dancer there were some anxious moments for his connections, as Flintshire and jockey Javier Castellano found themselves bottled up in traffic during the final turn. But they were able to shake free in both races and Flintshire scampered to visually impressive wins.

 

"He's a remarkable horse. We're lucky to have him," Brown said. "I'm not surprised anymore (by his races). He came out of his victory great so far and we plan on the Joe Hirsch (gr. IT)."

 

The $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational will be run at Belmont Oct. 1.

Making her first start since winning the Belmont Oaks Invitational (gr. IT) on July 4, 2015, Lady Eli finished second in Saturday's Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa Stakes (gr. IIT). She was beaten by less than a length by 27-1 long shot Strike Charmer in the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes, which was run in 1:38.77, a time that was close to eclipsing Ironicus' course record of 1:38.54.

MITCHELL: Strike Charmer Bests Lady Eli in Ballston Spa

"I'm disappointed she got beat, but it was a tall order. She hadn't run in 14 months, and they ran fast," Brown said. "I didn't quite expect the race to go that fast. She just got a little tired at the end. Hopefully, she will get a lot out of that and move forward."

Brown, who is leading the training standings in a quest for his first Saratoga title, worked several horses Saturday on the Oklahoma training track turf, including Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) winner Sea Calisi, who is to start next at Belmont in the $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) Oct. 8.

 

Sea Calisi, in her first work since winning the Beverly D. Aug. 13, covered a half-mile in :50.62, in company with Wekeela.

"Just a maintenance work. Stretched (Sea Calisi's) legs a little bit—worked terrific," Brown said.

 

The 1 1/4-mile Flower Bowl, which Brown won last year with Stephanie's Kitten en route to her victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (gr. IT), is also at the top of the list for Lady Eli's next start.

 

Brown also reported that his Travers (gr. I) starters, Connect (sixth), Gift Box (fourth) ,and My Man Sam (eighth), came out of the race in good order.