Trainer Chad Brown has won seven of the last 11 renewals of the $300,000 Ballston Spa (G2) at Saratoga, but never twice with the same filly or mare. That could change Thursday when Technical Analysis defends her title in the 1 1/16-mile turf fixture on Thursday.
Technical Analysis has proven a tough nut to crack at Saratoga. In five starts at the summer resort, she’s won four times, most recently the Aug. 2 De La Rose S. by more than three lengths. All of her other local wins have been at graded level, while her lone setback was still a respectable second to stablemate In Italian in last year’s Diana (G1).
“It’s great to have talented horses and it’s also great to have horses fire their best shot every time,” Brown said.
The last horse to repeat in the Ballston Spa was champion Wait a While in 2007-08
Brown, as usual, is well stocked to pick up most of the minor awards as well. Fluffy Socks, second by a half-length in last year’s Ballston Spa, captured the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) two back, though trailed a field of five in a Brown-dominated Diana in mid-July.
Also lining up for the barn are Consumer Spending, who captured the Eatontown (G3) and Matchmaker (G3) at Monmouth in her last two starts, and Speak of the Devil, who is winless in four starts since the 2022 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and perhaps would relish some cut in the ground.
Looking to shock the Brown juggernaut are Grade 3 winners Surprisingly, Gam’s Mission, and Evvie Jets. Also a multiple winner at that level is Jumbly, who invades from Europe for trainer Joseph O’Brien. Jumbly was most recently fourth in the Duke of Cambridge (G2) over a straight mile at Royal Ascot in June.
