Bet down to 4-5 favoritism in his unveiling on Saratoga’s finale, Complexity continued the strong meet for leading owner Klaravich Stables and the Spa’s record-setting trainer Chad Brown. The $375,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase made short work of his foes in the 3RD race on Labor Day to become yet another to follow for his hot connections.
Complexity did nearly everything right, except for the understandable rookie blip of breaking a tad slowly on the rail. Recovering well for Jose Ortiz, the Stonestreet-bred juvenile was already on top by a half-length through an opening quarter in :22.14. He put away his pace foes at the half in :45.02, opened up through five furlongs in :57.00, and crossed the wire by a dominant 4 1/4-length margin. His final time for six furlongs on the fast track was a snappy 1:09.78.
The 33-1 Harvey Wallbanger, whose hind heel was clipped by the troubled Stock Chain, outperformed his odds when best of the rest by six lengths. Stock Chain was pulled up because of his torrid trip, marred by a bad stumble and swerve following his heel-clipping. The chart caller complimented jockey Luis Saez for his horsemanship: Stock Chain “had the rider show an amazing feat of balance and skill to hang on to his neck and remain aboard then was pulled up but walked off.” The stewards took a look at the mishap before allowing the result to stand.
Complexity is by Maclean’s Music, sire of 2017 Preakness S. (G1) hero Cloud Computing, also trained by Brown for co-owner Klaravich. He is a half-brother to Valadorna (by Curlin), the current Doubledogdare (G3) winner and runner-up in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). Their dam, the unraced Yes It’s True mare Goldfield, is herself a half to Grade 2 vixen Springside (by Awesome Again).
Later in the 6TH race, Three Chimneys Farm’s homebred juvenile Princesa Carolina thrived in her first turf opportunity for trainer Ken McPeek.
The blueblood daughter of Tapit and multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Pure Clan was intended to start on the grass August 12, only to have her debut rained off and switched to the main track. Princesa Carolina wound up a remote last of five behind Sippican Harbor, a result that took on new significance after that winner rolled in Saturday’s Spinaway (G1).
Much happier on the turf Monday, Princesa Carolina quickened from well off the pace to collar Toy Moon and win going away by three-quarters of a length. Ricardo Santana Jr. steered the gray through 1 1/16 miles on the firm Mellon turf in 1:42.87. According to Trakus, she turned in the fastest final quarter in :23.37 despite enduring one of the widest trips in the race, 24 feet more than Toy Moon.
