Chad Brown’s horses took the top four spots in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar, with Surge Capacity coming in first, marking the first time a trainer has achieved this in Del Mar history.
‣ Chad Brown’s horses took the top four spots in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar Sunday, marking the first time a trainer has achieved this in a Grade I win Del Mar history. The winning horse, Surge Capacity, managed to edge out stablemate Fluffy Socks at the last moment.
‣ Surge Capacity’s victory was significant as it marked her fifth start and she completed the race in 1:33.95, the fastest mile grass race of the meeting. Brown praised Surge Capacity as a “fighter” and a “very nice horse.”
‣ Brown acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the photo finish between Surge Capacity and Fluffy Socks, expressing sympathy for Fluffy Socks who is in the later stages of her career. However, he also praised all four of his Matriarch runners for their performances.
Chad Brown, a New York-based horse trainer, made history at the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar Sunday. He sent four horses to the West Coast, all of which secured the top four positions. Surge Capacity, a horse aptly named for the occasion, managed to edge out stablemate Fluffy Socks at the last minute. Beaute Cachee and Whitebeam secured the third and fourth positions respectively. This was the first time a trainer had all top four horses in a Grade I win at Del Mar.
Brown attributes his success to Bobby Frankel, a late Hall of Famer and his former mentor. He recalls Frankel’s fondness for the Matriarch race and his strategy of pointing fillies to it every year. Brown, who worked for Frankel in Southern California, remembers how he would prepare certain horses for this race. Brown still uses many of the techniques he learned from Frankel to prepare his horses for the Matriarch.
Surge Capacity, making only her fifth career start, initially faced some challenges. She started a bit awkwardly and was stuck in traffic into the far turn. However, she managed to inch closer down the backstretch. Meanwhile, Fluffy Socks was rallying clear on the outside. Whitebeam had a short-lived advantage in upper stretch, but Surge Capacity found her way into the clear and finished with a late flourish.
The winning rider, Joel Rosario, praised Surge Capacity’s fighting spirit. He noted that she enjoys competition and credited her kick for the victory. Surge Capacity completed the race in 1:33.95, marking the fastest mile grass race of the meeting.
Surge Capacity, who won her debut over the Monmouth lawn in June, quickly added a graded stakes victory to her resume. She suffered her only defeat to date in the Aug. 19 GII Lake Placid S., but bounced back to win the Oct. 27 GIII Valley View S. at Keeneland. Brown praised Surge Capacity, noting that she always trained like a good horse. He also mentioned that she is one of the best offspring of Flintshire, a champion turf horse he had the privilege of training.
Brown was impressed with all four of his Matriarch runners. He noted that Beaute Cachee had trouble around the eighth pole but managed to find her stride again. Whitebeam, who was closer to the pace than planned, still managed to hang on for fourth. Despite the fast pace, she didn’t cave and fall back through the field.
However, Brown admitted that the photo finish between Surge Capacity and Fluffy Socks was bittersweet. He felt for Fluffy Socks, a courageous and consistent horse in the later stages of her career. While he was happy that his horses were battling to win, he would have liked to see Fluffy Socks win a Grade I.
Pedigree notes reveal that Surge Capacity is one of three graded winners for her sire Flintshire, the Eclipse champion turf horse of 2016. She is his first Grade I winner. Klaravich Stable purchased Surge Capacity’s dam, Strong Incentive, for $200,000 at the 2014 OBS April sale. The mare’s 2-year-old daughter, Ways and Means, was second in this year’s GI Spinaway S. in the Klaravich colors.
In a tweet by TVG, Surge Capacity was seen out-rallying Fluffy Socks and topping the Chad Brown-trained superfecta in the $300,000 G1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar. The tweet included a video of the race, showcasing Surge Capacity’s impressive performance.
The Matriarch S.-GI, held on December 3, 2023, saw a total of $303,500 in prize money. Surge Capacity, a 3-year-old filly by Flintshire, won the first prize of $180,000. Her lifetime record now stands at 5-4-1-0, with earnings of $518,975.
