Brian Brown Stable poised for a potentially big weekend.

by Jay Wolf

For trainer Brian Brown, knowing where the next champion will come from is hard. Sometimes he isn’t even sure how he ends up with some yearlings. That was the case for Big Bad Princess, whose name was later changed to Prsntpretynperfect.

“My wife bought her at the Sunbury (Ohio Select) Sale,” said Brown “I wasn’t bidding and they kept looking at me. Jennifer was standing next to me and I didn’t realize that she was the one bidding.”

Big Bad Princess wearing hip number 61 was hammered down to Jennifer for $6,000. She soon changed the name of Big Bad Princess to Prsntpretynperfect and the two-year-old pacer is just that, perfect, this season.

“We just call her ‘Pretty,’ said Brown. “I honestly don’t know how to spell her name. I think Jennifer left out some letters to make it all fit.

“We were looking for a cheaper price horse for my son (Beau Brown) and my son-in-law (Cameron McCown) to race at the fairs. She just turned into a much better horse than we ever expected. She trained down really well before the qualifiers (finishing third twice at the Delaware County Fairgrounds).”

Prsntpretynperfect’s first start would come in the opening leg of the Ohio Sires Stake (OHSS) at Scioto Downs.

Driver Chris Page floated Prsntpretynperfect off the gate wings out of post seven and patiently sat last in the field of nine past the half mile station. The pair rallied late in the stretch to score the 19-1 upset in 1:55.4.

In the second $40,000 OHSS leg on July 17 at Northfield Park, Kayne Kauffman was given the assignment behind the promising filly.

“Chris drove another winner the week before (Kay Again in 1:53.4) and chose to stay with that one,” said Brown.

Kauffman didn’t disappoint, using a first over move to earn a 2 ½ length victory over Prsntpretynperfect’s stablemate, Shadows On Time, in 1:54.2 at 8-1.

While bettors were not quite taking notice of Prsntpretynperfect, Richard Lombardo of Solon, OH and Josh Green of Milford, DE certainly did and bought into the daughter of Big Bad John.

“We had been doing some talking before (the July 17th race) and Rich has owned a lot of horses with us. I didn’t do a very good job with Rich’s yearlings this year and he was looking for horses to race. He and Josh partner up on a lot of horses so Josh cam along with him,” said Brown.

The first race with the added partners was the $47,000 Ohio State Fair event back at Scioto Downs.

Sent off as the second betting choice, Prsntpretynperfect took the lead just past the ¼ mile station and cruised to her third straight win.

The third OHSS leg brought yet another driver’s change, this time to Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.

Wrenn guided Prsntpretynperfect to a four length victory over the Scioto oval in a lifetime best 1:54.

“Kayne had to drive his own horse when they drew into the same division, so Ronnie drove her. Ronnie drives a lot for me, but I just thought it was the right thing to do to give her back to Kayne,” said Brown “He won twice with her and besides, he’s a very good driver.”

Although the Prsntpretynperfect and Kauffman reunion for the final OHSS leg at Northfield Park resulted in a comfortable victory, it also caused some concern when the filly took a couple of bad steps at the start.

“We are not sure what happened at the start,” said Brown “The track was real bad that night. I’m not sure if it was the track or she was a little warm behind the gate.”

With a perfect five-for-five record this season and $103,500 on her card, she should head into the $250,000 Ohio Sires Stake Final on Saturday (Sept. 2) as a solid favorite from post three. Shadow In Time also earned enough points and will start from post five.

“The credit for this filly really goes to Cam and my daughter (Jess). He does most of the training with her and she has taken care of her all year,” said Brown. “This filly has something that most horses don’t have, the desire, heart and the guts. She just wants to be a winner.”

Prsntpretynperfect is one of 10 starters for the Brown Stable in the $2 million Ohio Sire Stakes Finals at Scioto Downs.

The Browns will send out a quartet in the three-year-old colt pace – Barnabas (post five), McThriller (post seven), Lightning Onmyfeet (post eight) and McRaven (post nine).

“Lightning Onmyfeet was really good in his last race last Friday. I think he will end as one of the favorites. He’s not real big horse, but he’s a hard-trying horse.”

In the two-year-old colt pace, they will send out Slick Mick (post four), Dragonology (post five) and Rock On Creek (post eight).

“If he’s 100 per cent, Rock On Creek should be right there,” said Brown.

Bye Bye Felicia (post nine) will compete in the sophomore filly pace.

“I think the three-year-old filly pace will be the best race of the night, it is so wide open,” said Brown. “If she gets a good trip, Bye Bye Felicia will have a chance.”

Despite having several good chances to win at Scioto, Brown will be watching the action from the east coast. He will be with Downbytheseaside in the $500,000 Messenger Stakes Final at Yonkers Raceway Saturday and with Fear The Dragon in the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Final at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sunday (Sept. 3).