Brazen Seeks to Duplicate Fairplex Win

Eight 2-year-old fillies will attempt to negotiate 1 1/16 miles around three turns Wednesday at Fairplex Park in the $42,360 Black Swan Stakes.

Trying to duplicate past success in sprinting at Fairplex is the filly Brazen. She scored an upset in the opening day Bustles and Bows Stakes, winning by three lengths at 15-1.

Before that Brazen was supplemented to the Grade II Del Mar Debutante at a mile, but after being a factor for half a mile she dropped back to last place, well behind Beyond Perfection.

There isn’t a filly of that caliber in the Black Swan lineup, and trainer Jerry Fanning should get a better line on Brazen’s ability to get a middle distance in this spot. Frank Olivares will ride Brazen and carry 116 pounds.

Saratoga Success is one for three lifetime, clicking in a maiden claimer at Del Mar this summer. She put in a decent run in the Bustles and Bows to finish third, within four lengths of Brazen.

Excepting Brazen, all entrants will carry 113 pounds.

In post position order, the Black Swan field consists of Marisa’s Melody, ridden by Arthur Ochoa; Teach Us, Omar Berrio; Gray Legion Lady, Ray Sibille; Illini Squaw, Martin Pedroza; Ultra Sass, Julio Garcia; Brazen; Nat’s Lea, David Flores, and Saratoga Success, Alex Solis.

The winner of the Black Swan will receive $24,360.

Kimmie’s April and Divine Spirit, one-two in a similar stakes two weeks ago, are the ones to beat as a field of nine squares off in the $25,000 Breeders Championship for 3-year-old trotting fillies Wednesday night at Los Alamitos.

Also on tap that night is a $24,756 Breeders Championship for 2-year-old trotting fillies. A field of 11 will face the starter in the ninth race on the card, with Capricious Stephi the 5-2 morning line favorite. Capricious Stephi, from the barn of Joe Lighthill, handled a similar crew in a California Sires Stakes two weeks ago and is afforded a slight edge over So So Beach and Satin Empres.