Brown Sends Two Turfers to Northern Dancer

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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Big Blue Kitten

A diverse group of grass runners, many with reputations to uphold, will face off in the $300,000 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes Presented by HPIBet (gr. IT) at Woodbine Sept. 17 at 12 furlongs.

Trainer Chad Brown, who has become the premier turf trainer in North America and scored his first meet title at Saratoga this summer, entered both Wake Forest and Big Blue Kitten in the event. Wake Forest took the Man o’ War Stakes (gr. IT) in May in his third stateside start. He stalled and finished third in the United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) following that, and encountered trouble down the lane in the Arlington Million (gr. IT), finishing 10th. Like most in here, he is devoid of early pace and will look to make one run late.

Big Blue Kitten won the United Nations and Turf Classic Invitational (gr. IT) last year at age 7. After a six-month layoff, he failed to make an impression in this year's Turf Classic nor in the Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT). At age 8, it has to be considered that he has lost a step, but perhaps Brown can turn him around to make a run.

World Approval, winner of the United Nations in May, has the advantage of being the lone speed in this line-up. He has run on or close up to the pace in most of his recent races, although he gave way late in the Arlington Million in his last outing. He has never been 12 furlongs, so a question lingers whether he can carry his speed long enough to hit the wire first.

The Pizza Man is another who must turn back the hands of time. He is on a four-race losing streak after having won the Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IIT) at Del Mar last November. Now 7, he rallied late in the Arlington Million to grab sixth, 1 1/2 lengths off the winner, but a far cry from his victory a year ago.

Danish Dynaformer owns a recent victory over the layout at the distance, having won the Singspiel Stakes (gr. IIIT) in July. He ran on well for fifth in the Arlington Million and looks versatile enough to lay close to the pace and pounce. He is certainly one to watch at what should be a square price. He won the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine last year at the distance by 7 3/4 lengths.

Button Down will try males for the third straight start, having checked in second in the Nijinsky Stakes (gr. IIT) and then fourth in the Sky Classic Stakes (gr. IIT), both at Woodbine at shorter distances. She won the Cardinal Handicap (gr. IIT) last year and has been facing the likes of Tepin. She gets as many as 10 pounds from her foes here and is another conceivable longshot play.

A wild card in the race, Majeed makes his first start in North America. He has won six of 18 starts in England and the United Arab Emirates and is puzzling in that he has led early in some of his races but run well back in others.

Camp Creek receives a huge weight break as a 3-year-old facing elders. He rallied from well back to win the Breeders’ Stakes in his last start at 26-1, one outing after breaking his maiden. One wouldn't think he is up to this task, but he is certainly going in the right direction.

Northern Dancer Turf S. Presented by HPIBet (gr. IT)

Woodbine, Saturday, September 17, 2016, Race 10
  • 1 1/2m
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 5:34 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Button Down (GB) Gary Boulanger 116 Josie Carroll -
2 Big Blue Kitten (KY) Joel Rosario 123 Chad C. Brown -
3 Majeed (GB) Jamie P. Spencer 119 David Simcock -
4 Wake Forest (GER) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 126 Chad C. Brown -
5 Camp Creek (ON) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 112 Rachel Halden -
6 World Approval (FL) Julien R. Leparoux 126 Mark E. Casse -
7 The Pizza Man (IL) Flavien Prat 123 Roger A. Brueggemann -
8 Danish Dynaformer (ON) Patrick Husbands 121 Roger L. Attfield -