Brown Plans to Separate Highly Motivated, Crowded Trade, Risk Taking in Triple Crown

OZONE PARK, NY – Trainer Chad Brown is planning to separate his trio of star 3-year-olds – Highly Motivated, Crowded Trade, and Risk Taking – as the 2021 Triple Crown season approaches, he told the NYRA media department.

The Klaravich Stables-owned duo of Crowded Trade and Risk Taking worked in company through a 1/2-mile in 47.55 Saturday on Big Sandy. Both horses are exiting the Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) April 3 where they finished third and seventh, respectively.

“Risk Taking took some dirt but he really didn’t have any excuse, he just didn’t fire,” said Brown. “Crowded Trade, he missed the break a bit, and that might have cost him a little bit, but he had an opportunity to run down the lane and he ran really well.”

Brown said Crowded Trade is aiming towards a start in the Preakness Stakes (G1), the second leg of the Triple Crown, on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course. Brown captured the 2017 Preakness with Cloud Computing.

Boasting a perfect in-the-money record in 3 starts, Crowded Trade won at first asking in January at Aqueduct ahead of a narrow nose defeat to Weyburn in the one-turn mile Gotham (G3) in March. Last out, the More Than Ready chestnut closed well to be third in the Wood.

Risk Taking, a $240,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, captured the 9-furlong Withers (G3) in February at Aqueduct ahead of a seventh in the Wood Memorial as the post-time favorite. The Medaglia d’Oro bay is targeting a start in the $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) on May 8 at Belmont.

“They both seem to have bounced out of the Wood in fine shape,” said Brown. “We’ll monitor them week to week, but they were moving well. I’m leaning towards the Preakness for Crowded Trade, and with Risk Taking, I’m leaning towards the Peter Pan.”

Brown will be represented in the Kentucky Derby (G1) by Klaravich Stables’ Highly Motivated, who will work at Keeneland on Sunday. The Into Mischief bay, a $240,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, graduated at second asking at Belmont in September ahead of winning the 6 1/2-furlong Nyquist at Keeneland in November.

Following a third in the Gotham in his seasonal debut, Highly Motivated gave likely Derby favorite Essential Quality a test in the Blue Grass (G2) on April 3 at Keeneland, battling the 2-year-old champion down the lane en route to a narrow neck loss.

“I thought he ran terrific in the Blue Grass and he came out of it good,” said Brown.

Brown’s previous Kentucky Derby starters include Good Magic (2nd, 2018), Practical Joke (5th, 2017), Shagaf (20th, 2016), My Man Sam (11th, 2016), and Normandy Invasion (4th, 2013).