Owner Peter Brant has moved approximately 75 percent of his stable from Chad Brown, redistributing runners to Bill Mott, Riley Mott, and Miguel Clement. The shift marks a significant restructuring of a partnership that has delivered 26 Grade 1 victories since 2018.

Among the most notable horses leaving Brown's care is Gezora, last year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner, who now trains with Bill Mott. Daily Racing Form was first to report about this move by Brant. The mare finished second in the Grade 3 Modesty on May 1 at Churchill Downs in her seasonal debut and first North American start for Brown following a European campaign. Brown won that race with Kathynmarissa.

Brant confirmed the Modesty result was not the sole catalyst for the stable redistribution, though he expressed dissatisfaction with running Gezora in a race where she conceded five pounds to the field.

The Brant-Brown alliance began in 2018 and quickly produced Sistercharlie, who won three Grade 1 stakes including the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and was crowned champion female turf horse. Brown went on to train champions Regal Glory and Sierra Leone for Brant, with the latter partly owned by the now 79-year-old who returned to racing in 2016 after a 20-year hiatus.

Brant, who currently has 50 to 60 horses in training, said he intends to maintain a working relationship with the five-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer. He noted that he has done "very, very well" with Brown, describing him as a great trainer and a good friend, and confirmed he would continue to send horses to him.

The majority of horses Brown still has for Brant are owned in partnership. This includes currently sidelined three-year-olds Paladin and Canaletto, who Brant owns with Coolmore, and Grade 2 winner Asbury Park, a partnership with St. Elias Stable. A number of two-year-olds Brant owns with Coolmore are still designated to train with Brown.

Examples of wholly-owned Brant horses remaining with Brown include recent Aqueduct allowance winner Arizona Territory and unraced three-year-old Collado Hueco, an Into Mischief colt and first foal from Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road.

Brant cited a desire to run more frequently in Kentucky as part of his rationale for sending horses to Riley Mott, though Brown maintains a barn at Churchill Downs. Stakes-winning New York-bred George Briggs, now with Clement, is entered to run Sunday at Aqueduct.

Brown said he remains confident the partnership has not produced its last Grade 1 winner together.

Image Benoit