In hopes of getting both horses qualified for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Chad Brown said that he is leaning toward running multiple Grade 1 winner Chancer McPatrick in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland while sending Hill Road to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. Both races are on April 5.
Chancer McPatrick and Hill Road finished second and third, respectively, in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 8, the 3-year-old debut for both.
Chancer McPatrick, who won the Grade 1 Champagne last year, has 35 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby while Hill Road, who finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year has 24 points.
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Brown believes the Wood Memorial might be a better spot for Hill Road because Aqueduct can be more of a demanding track.
“A mile and an eighth over a taxing, tiring track might be better for a horse that’s screaming to go a mile and a quarter,” Brown said.
Though the Blue Grass will likely be a tougher race, Brown noted that Chancer McPatrick need only “to hit the board” to likely earn enough qualifying points to secure his spot in the Derby. Both the Wood and Blue Grass offer its top finishers qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale.
Brown said he has been happy with the way both horses have trained out of the Tampa Bay Derby, which was won by Owen Almighty, who is scheduled to make his next start in the Blue Grass.
Meanwhile, Brown said Praetor, who won an allowance at Gulfstream Park on March 9, is possible for the Blue Grass or the Lexington Stakes, the latter run a week after the Blue Grass at 1 1/16 miles.
“Off that race, he might need a little more time and a gradual stretch out might work better for him,” Brown said.
Praetor, who beat Sovereignty a neck when the two ran in a Sept. 27 maiden race at Aqueduct, won a one-turn-mile maiden race by 7 1/2 lengths, earning a modest 79 Beyer Speed Figure. Sovereignty won the Fountain of Youth and will likely be favored in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.
Meanwhile, Brown said that Garamond, third in the Grade 3 Gotham following a debut victory at Tampa Bay Downs, is “doubtful” to make the Wood as originally planned.
Lastly, Brown said Ballerina d’Oro, third in the Davona Dale last out, will make her next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle Stakes as a way to get to the Kentucky Oaks. Ballerina d’Oro finished second, with a troubled trip, in the Grade 2 Demoiselle here last December.
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