Brown in search of first G1 Runhappy Travers score with a trio of top contenders

Growing up in the Capital Region of upstate New York, four-time Saratoga Race Course meet-leading trainer Chad Brown holds the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers in high regard. While yet to saddle a winner for the Spa’s marquee race, Brown appears to hold his strongest hand yet in the 153rd renewal of the oldest race for 3-year-olds in North America.

Brown has saddled a dozen contenders for the Runhappy Travers with his best result taking place last year with third-place finisher Miles D. This year, he will send out Grade 1-winners Zandon and Early Voting as well as up-and-coming stakes-winner Artorius.

A native of Mechanicville, New York, just 13 miles southeast of Saratoga Springs, Brown expressed his appreciation for the Spa.

“In general, the history not only surrounding the meet, but the Travers was a huge part of my upbringing,” Brown said. “I still have many people in my life that remember me from when I was a kid running around the picnic area that are still here as fans and as friends and as family. To win the race for them, for my hometown, would mean a lot to me, personally. It would be a lifetime worth of hard work and sacrifices. The only reason I’m in this profession is from coming to Saratoga with my family as a kid. It doesn’t get any bigger than that – to win the jewel of their meet and the history surrounding the race. Coming to the Travers with my parents when I was knee-high is the only reason I’m here in the first place.”

The last time Brown had as many as three horses in the Travers was in 2016, when he sent out Gift Box [fourth], Connect [sixth] and My Man Sam [eighth], none of which came close to touching 13 1/2-length winner Arrogate, whose 1:59.36 time for the 10 furlongs still stands as record time.