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Sierra Leone leads Brown-trained Breeders’ Cup hopefuls on Saturday tab at Belmont

by NYRA Press Ofiice

• Sierra Leone leads Brown-trained Breeders’ Cup hopefuls on Saturday tab at Belmont
• Multiple Grade 1-winner Thorpedo Anna works at Saratoga
• Locked possible for G2 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by TwinSpires
• Atras trainees Chasing Liberty, Neat tabbed for out-of-town stakes action

Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg, Rocket Ship Racing and Peter Brant’s dual graded stakes-winner Sierra Leone posted a half-mile work for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic as one of many Breeders’ Cup hopefuls to breeze Saturday at Belmont Park for four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown.

The son of Gun Runner hit the dirt training track shortly after reopening from a renovation break at 9:30 a.m. and breezed solo in 49.25 over the fast track. It was his third work at Belmont since moving south from Saratoga Race Course about three weeks ago.

“It went super. He worked a half-mile and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13 and 1. It was extremely impressive,” Brown said. “The horse has been training really well and I'm really excited about him going into the Breeders' Cup.”

Sierra Leone looks to cap a sophomore campaign that includes wins in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland and Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds, as well as on-the-board efforts in marquee Grade 1 events when a narrowly-beaten second in the Kentucky Derby, and third at Saratoga in both the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and DraftKings Travers.

Brown said he is hopeful a winning result could put Sierra Leone in the mix for Eclipse Award honors as Champion 3-Year-Old as he takes on Travers winner Fierceness for the third straight race.

“I think Fierceness is clearly the leader of the division and it's well earned. I know some of these horses have taken turns beating each other but he has had a spectacular summer in my opinion and he's not only the one to beat in the Classic, but also the leader of the division right now,” Brown said. “But if Sierra Leone was to break through and take down a race like the Breeders' Cup Classic facing mostly older horses, I think he'd be in serious consideration given his consistency.”

Brown also sent out top sophomore middle-distance competitor Domestic Product as he readies to make his final career start in the two-turn Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile before retiring to stud alongside his sire Practical Joke at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

The dark bay colt, a Kentucky homebred for Klaravich Stables, covered a half-mile solo in 48.42 in an earlier set before Sierra Leone.

“Outstanding - more of the same from him. Very consistent,” said Brown, who indicated Domestic Product would also be pre-entered in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. “He's gotten stronger and faster as the year has gone on and I'm really looking forward to his race.”

Domestic Product was last seen winning the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial on August 24 at the Spa and has put together a strong campaign that includes a 7 1/2-length romp in the Grade 3 Dwyer in July at the Big A, and a gutsy win in the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby in March.

Brown also sent out two talented juveniles for half-mile works in Chancer McPatrick [48.01] and Zulu Kingdom [48.63], who are targeting the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, respectively. Zulu Kingdom worked in company with older graded stakes-winner Running Bee.

Chancer McPatrick has stamped himself as a leading dirt juvenile with back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Spa’s Hopeful and Belmont at the Big A’s Champagne last out on October 5. Zulu Kingdom has also quickly established himself at the top of the juvenile turf division with back-to-back graded wins as well, taking the Grade 3 With Anticipation in August at the Spa and the Grade 2 Pilgrim on September 28 at the Big A.

“A little quick, but did it easy in a solo breeze,” said Brown of the Chancer McPatrick work. “He acts a year older than he is really in everything he does - both in the morning and in the afternoon. He'll need some pace in front of him with his running style, but he's certainly training well.”

On the filly side, Alpha Delta Stables’ Grade 1-winning homebred Raging Sea, with Flavien Prat up, breezed a half-mile in company with their recent Grade 1 Spinster runner-up Occult, the pair covering the distance in 49.46.

"She was traveling well," Prat said. "It was a pretty standard work and she went good. She's happy and moving well."

Raging Sea will enter the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff off three straight graded wins when taking the Grade 2 Shuvee in July at the Spa, upsetting divisional leader Idiomatic in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 24 at the Spa and following with a narrow victory over Batucada in the Grade 2 Beldame on October 6 at the Big A.

Top female sprinter Ways and Means also breezed Saturday, covering four furlongs in 48.21 in company with sophomore filly Pretty Ana. The daughter of Practical Joke notched her first top-level score with an impressive victory in the Grade 1 Test presented by Ticketmaster in August at the Spa and followed last out with a commanding score in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom.

“She was the only one last week I thought got a little lost in her work switching to the training track after primarily being based in Saratoga all year,” Brown said. “Today, I gave her a workmate and she worked dynamite. A little bit of focus for her and she was all business.”

Also on the tab Saturday at Belmont was Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile possible Gina Romantica, who went a solo half-mile in 49.51 and Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf contender Virgin Colada, who breezed a half-mile in 49.42 in company with older multiple graded stakes-winner Fluffy Socks.

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Multiple Grade 1-winner Thorpedo Anna works at Saratoga

Brookdale Racing, Mark Edwards, Judy Hicks and Magdalena Racing’s multiple Grade 1-winner Thorpedo Anna breezed five furlongs in 1:00.40 Saturday on the Oklahoma dirt training track at Saratoga Race Course.

Thorpedo Anna posted the sharp work in company with multiple stakes-placed 4-year-old gelding Denington [1:01.50], who she started behind but was well in front of during the gallop-out. The Fast Anna dark bay has been working weekly en route to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on November 2 at Del Mar.

“It was a fantastic work, actually,” said McPeek, adding that she will work again before heading west. “She is going to work next weekend.”

McPeek said Thorpedo Anna met the objectives of the move under regular exercise rider Danny Ramsey.

“Just sit off Denington, be patient, and range up to him, and finish down the lane,” said McPeek. “He is a nice horse in his own right. He is stakes-placed and has made quite a bit of money, but she is hitting on all cylinders.”

Thorpedo Anna, who captured the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May, boasts a 9-7-2-0 record with $2,803,663 in earnings, including additional Grade 1 wins in the Cotillion last-out on September 21 at Parx Racing, Saratoga’s CCA Oaks and DK Horse Acorn, along with the Grade 2 Fantasy - all this year. She also stole the hearts of many racing fans when beaten a head in the Grade 1 DraftKings Travers in a brave attempt versus colts in the Spa’s premier event.

Thorpedo Anna will likely be a short price in the Distaff along with reigning Champion Older Dirt Mare Idiomatic, who worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds for dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox on Friday at Churchill Downs.

“I don’t worry about the horses that I don’t train,” McPeek said of the much-anticipated matchup.

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Locked possible for G2 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by TwinSpires

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Walmac Farm’s Grade 1-winner Locked made a victorious return to the races in Saturday’s opener at Belmont at the Big A, besting elders in a seven furlong allowance optional-claiming sprint by 7 1/2-lengths.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the Gun Runner sophomore was last seen finishing third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in November at Del Mar. The talented chestnut colt graduated last September at Saratoga Race Course before taking down the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity one month later at Keeneland.

On Saturday, Locked was hustled from the gate by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, who lost his whip early in the running, and tracked in second position as Gun It marked swift splits of 22.83 seconds and 45.09 over the fast main track. Locked was asked for his best through the turn and was in command with three-sixteenths remaining to score under a drive in a final time of 1:21.02.

"It was encouraging. He had been training very well," Pletcher said. "It worked out."

Pletcher said the promising effort could propel Locked to the Grade 2, $500,000 Cigar Mile Handicap presented by TwinSpires on December 7 here with an eye towards the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup on January 25 at Gulfstream Park.

"We'd talked about the possibility of the Cigar Mile or Harlan’s Holiday as a springboard to the Pegasus," Pletcher said. "The Cigar Mile looks a little more attractive after the way he ran on this track today. We'll talk to Aron [Wellman, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners] and the connections and come up with a plan."

A $425,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Locked is out of the winning Malibu Moon mare Luna Rosa, a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winners Gabby’s Golden Gal and Always a Princess.

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Atras trainees Chasing Liberty, Neat tabbed for out-of-town stakes action

Twin Creeks Racing Stables’ Kentucky homebred Chasing Liberty is hoping to complete a productive 2-year-old campaign with a victory in the $200,000 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, a one-mile turf stakes for juveniles on November 1 as part of the Breeders’ Cup Friday undercard at Del Mar.

Trainer Rob Atras said the Constitution colt likely would not appreciate the sharp cut back to five furlongs for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint which is slated for the same day.

“We were outsiders and going five furlongs - some say they come back a little more with so much speed - but I just don't know that he has the tactical speed to stay with them,” Atras said.

Chasing Liberty emerged victorious in his first two outings by taking his July debut traveling 5 1/2-furlongs at Ellis Park ahead of being elevated to victory in the lucrative 6 1/2-furlong Listed Juvenile Sprint on September 1 at Kentucky Downs.

Chasing Liberty, with Florent Geroux up, was checked back to 7th-of-9 through a half-mile in 45.20 before making a nine-wide move into contention at the quarter-pole. He closed resolutely down the lane as the pacesetting Under Who’s Radar lugged out in the final eighth of a mile, interfering with Chasing Liberty, who had to re-group and come again while missing by three-quarters of a length.

An objection by Geroux and subsequent stewards’ inquiry saw Chasing Liberty elevated to victory and secured the $597,600 winner’s share of the $1 million purse.

Chasing Liberty, out of the stakes-placed Declaration of War mare Peaceful, returned to finish a rallying fourth in the Listed Indian Summer on October 6 at Keeneland. There, he was off a step slow from post 2-of-12 over firm footing in the 5 1/2-furlong sprint but again showed a keen rally to finish just two lengths back of the victorious pacesetter Governor Sam while a neck back of Floodlites for show honors.

“I still think he was good enough to win the other day, but he didn't get away as quick as I was hoping and then he got bumped pretty good at the eighth pole,” Atras said. “I'm not saying he would have won for sure, but I think he would have been right there on the line.”

Chasing Liberty worked back a half-mile in 50 flat Friday over the Keeneland main track.

“I've always thought he'd want a little more ground so maybe a mile will be good for him,” Atras said.

Red White and Blue Racing’s multiple graded stakes-winner Neat will exit the inside post under Junior Alvarado as part of an overflow field for next Saturday’s Grade 3 Bryan Station, a one-mile turf test for sophomores, at Keeneland.

Neat was last seen finishing a closing third in the one-mile $1.5 million Gun Runner on September 8 at Kentucky Downs. There, the Constitution colt made a six-wide rally under Junior Alvarado to finish 1 3/4-lengths back of the victorious Brilliant Berti.

“Tricky track. Some horses love it there - he didn't run terrible there, he ran a great race but he struggled with the footing,” Atras said.

The talented chestnut has won 4-of-6 starts this year, taking the Texas Turf Mile in January at Sam Houston before making the grade in the Grade 3 Transylvania with a nose score over Cugino in April at Keeneland.

The $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase won the one-mile Grade 3 Manila here two starts later with a three-quarter length score over Deterministic and arrived in time for a neck score in the one-mile Grade 2 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in August at Saratoga Race Course ahead of his Gun Runner effort.

Neat has worked back three times at Keeneland since the Gun Runner, including a half-mile on turf in 53.20 on October 5 as well as a four-furlong effort in 50.60 this morning over the main track.

Atras said Neat has trained forwardly enough to earn another start in what has been a sensational campaign.

“He came out of the race good, and he was sharp. We breezed him on the grass one time - a real easy half and he was really on it,” Atras said. “The timing is good with the five weeks and it's near the end of the meet. We know he likes Keeneland and he's doing good. Hopefully we get his 'A' race.”

Neat is out of the unraced More Than Ready mare Orabella, who also produced dual graded stakes-placed Louder Than Bombs.