LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After disappointing losses by favorites Newspaperofrecord and Precieuse earlier on Kentucky Derby weekend, trainer Chad Brown’s luck turned in Saturday’s $400,000 American Turf Stakes (G2) when Digital Age wore down long-time leader A Thread of Blue to win the 1 1/16-mile event for three-year-olds.
Making just his third career start following a pair of wins at Tampa Bay Downs over the winter, Digital Age saved ground most of the way racing in the second tier, swung out for running room approaching the final turn, and kicked on down the lane to catch the tiring leader by three parts of a length under Irad Ortiz Jr. The final time was 1:44.63 over the Churchill Downs course labeled firm.
Owned by Klaravich Stables, Digital Age paid $19.20. A Thread of Blue narrowly held for second by a head over 5-2 favorite Social Paranoia.
“His mind is getting better and better every time he runs,” Ortiz said.
Digital Age won on debut by 1 1/4 lengths going a mile on January 19. He returned on March 9 and rallied to win the $75,000 Columbia by a head, also over a mile. In both races, Digital Age broke slow.
“He’s been a nice colt all along,” Brown said. “He doesn’t have a lot of speed, so we raced him at Tampa as we didn’t think the Gulfstream Park course would suit him. He knows where the wire is.”
Bred in Ireland by Merry Fox Stud, Digital Age is by Invincible Spirit, who also sired Saturday’s 2000 Guineas (G1) winner Magna Grecia. Digital Age is out of Willow View, a Lemon Drop Kid half-sister to Irish Group 1-winning juvenile Cursory Glance, and has now earned $284,760.
