Connect in Good Shape After PA Derby Win
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Photo: Barbara Weidl/EQUI-PHOTO
Connect, winning the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) from Gun Runner Sept. 24 at Parx Racing
Connect was in fine fettle Sept. 25, the day after his Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) victory at Parx Racing and trainer Chad Brown said the Breeders' Cup will be considered along with several other races.
Brown, who watched the Pennsylvania Derby from Belmont Park, said he was thrilled with the performance of Connect, who beat 11 other 3-year-olds, including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) victor Exaggerator to earn his first graded stakes win. The colt won his first three starts this year, including the Curlin Stakes July 29 at Saratoga Race Course before finishing sixth in the Travers Stakes (gr. I) there Aug. 27 in his start prior to Saturday's race, which he captured by a half-length from Gun Runner.
ANGST: Connect Bounces Back in Pennsylvania Derby
"We always thought a lot of Connect," Brown said of Paul Pompa Jr.'s son of Curlin . "He's a horse that took a while to come around. He had a couple of minor injuries along the way and he finally showed yesterday what we thought all along about him—that he could be a top 3-year-old dirt horse.
"We're very excited about him. So far he looks OK and we'll form a plan in the days to come. The Breeders' Cup will be considered, but there are other races as well and other routes we can take with him. He's definitely an exciting horse for the future."