Brown runners gearing up for turf stakes

Hyper ran himself into consideration for the Joe Hirsch, along with stablemates Real Solution and Big Blue Kitten (NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography) Chad Brown showcased his tremendous turf division depth on Saturday when six-year-old Hyper won the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap by a half-length, giving the trainer many options going into the fall. The Bowling Green was Hyper’s first graded stakes victory, and the triumph was particularly gratifying for Brown’s assistant, Cherie DeVaux, who has worked with Hyper since he was a three-year-old. “He’s so focused. He goes to the track, he has his ears up,” DeVaux said. “He’s such a cool horse. “When he was three, he jogged a bunch of days in a row and we were standing on the front side and somebody dropped a plate of silverware. All of these horses scattered, and here’s this big, imposing horse who just turned around and looked at them. That’s how he is. Nothing rattles him. He’s all business, and he’s always been like that.” Hyper now joins Grade 1-winning stablemates Big Blue Kitten and Real Solution as possible candidates for the Grade 1, $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational on September 28 at Belmont. All three are Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebreds. Big Blue Kitten and Real Solution on Sunday breezed five furlongs in company on the firm inner turf in an identical 1:03.12 in what DeVaux described as a “maintenance work.” Both horses are exiting Grade 1 wins on August 17, with Big Blue Kitten taking the Sword Dancer Invitational at Saratoga and Real Solution being promoted to victory via disqualification in the Arlington Million.

Brown also is loaded for this upcoming weekend’s stakes. Watsdachances and
recent European import Alterite are bound for Saturday’s Grade 1 Garden City,
Laugh Out Loud is headed to the Grade 3 Noble Damsel on the undercard, and
Shakeira is possible for the John Hettinger for New York-bred fillies and mares
on Sunday.

Watsdachances and Alterite covered five grassy furlongs in 1:03 1/5 and 1:02,
respectively, on Sunday. Grade 3 veteran Watsdachances was most recently
promoted to second in the August 18 Lake Placid at Saratoga, while Group 1 near-misser
Alterite was last seen finishing sixth in the June 16 French Oaks.

According to NYRA Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes, the 1 1/8-mile Garden
City is also expected to attract two-time Grade 1 winner Emollient, who took the
American Oaks at Hollywood Park last time out in her first start on
turf; Discreet Marq, who made it three straight wins in the Del Mar Oaks on
August 17; Caroline Thomas, awarded the victory in the Lake Placid; Concise, who
finished fourth in that race; Summer of Fun and Effie Trinket, first and second
in the Auntie Mame on August 10 at the Spa; and With Sugar On Top, an impressive
winner of an optional claimer on August 22 at Saratoga.

Noble Damsel contender Laugh Out Loud, who traveled a half-mile in :49.24 on
the Belmont training track on Saturday, exits a third in the August 3 De La Rose
at Saratoga. She is likely to meet De La Rose winner Assateague; Matriarch
heroine Better Lucky, second in the Just a Game last time out; multiple Grade 2
diva Hungry Island, fourth as the favorite in the Ballston Spa on August
24; Ellis Park Turf winner My Perfect Ten, making her graded
stakes debut; Peace Preserver, seventh in an optional claimer at Saratoga on
July 22; and defending champion Naples Bay, runner-up in the July 28
Matchmaker in her latest. .

Shakeira negotiated four furlongs in :50 1/5 on the Oklahoma training track
on Wednesday. Listed as probable for the 1 1/8-mile John Hettinger are Dreaming of Cara, Inimitable Romanee, Kibosh, Love Stanza Chance
and Wholelottashakin.

The other state-bred stakes next Sunday is the Ashley T. Cole, also at 1 1/8
miles on the inner turf. West Point winner Hangover Kid tops the likely
starters, and expected to join him in the starting
gate are Abilio, sixth in the West Point; 2011 West Point winner Compliance
Officer, second in his only start of 2013; Idle American, fourth in an
off-the-turf optional claimer last time out; Kharafa and Lubash, third and
fourth, respectively, in the West Point; Majestic Raffy; and Street Game. Hear
the Footsteps and Lawyer Jim are questionable.

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