Brown Duo Heads Distaff Turf Mile

[Wandering Eyes]

As has become customary in turf races throughout the east and midwest, Chad Brown offers up a pair that merit respect in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile. Dream Awhile (War Front), 7-2 on the morning line, appears to be carrying the most forward momentum heading into this race. A close-up third in her U.S. debut at Aqueduct Nov. 9, the Joe Allen homebred followed up with a come-from-behind victory in Gulfstream’s Tropical Park Oaks Dec. 30. Facing a salty bunch in her latest in the Feb. 10 GIII Suwannee River S., Dream Awhile ran a winning race but found only stablemate Elysea’s World (Ire) (Champs Elysees {GB}) a neck too good at the wire of the nine-furlong test. Brown is also represented by On Leave (War Front), who has proven consistent throughout her career, having hit the board in 13 of 15 careers outings. Victorious in last summer’s Perfect Sting S. at Belmont, she added the All Along S. at Laurel later in September. Given some time off following the latter, she returned to finish third in the GII Goldikova S. at Del Mar Nov. 4 ahead of a score in the Dec. 16 GIII My Charmer S. at Gulfstream. Last time out, she was only a half length behind winner Lull (War Front) and runner-up Res Ipsa (English Channel) in the GIII Honey Fox S. Mar. 31 and appears poised to take another step forward this time. Another model of consistency, Res Ipsa rounded out 2017 winning three out of her last four starts, including a win in a Keeneland allowance Oct. 13. Hailing from a barn that typically doesn’t crank them up for their first start back, she looks ready for improvement here. Mark Casse saddles a pair of Grade I winners, including John Oxley’s Dream Dancing (Tapit), who hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since her GI Del Mar Oaks victory. Seventh last time out in the GIII Suwanne River S., she secures the services of Javier Castellano here. Drawing the 11 hole, La Coronel captured the GI Queen Elizabeth Cup at Keeneland last October before finishing runner up in the Feb. 10 GIII Endevour S. at Tampa. Third at the Oldsmar oval’s GII Hillsborough S. Mar. 10, the John Oxley filly weakened late to be fourth last out in Keeneland’s GI Jenny Wiley S. Apr. 14.

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