Program Trading Outbattles Naval Power, Giving Chad Brown, Seth Klarman Fourth Turf Classic Victory

Trainer Chad Brown and Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables won the Grade 1 Old Forester Turf Classic on three consecutive occasions from 2019-’21, with Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar, Digital Age, and Domestic Spending (the latter in a dead-heat with Colonel Liam). After a two-year absence from the Churchill Downs winner’s circle in the premier turf race on Saturday's Kentucky Derby day program, the two men were back when Program Trading edged Godolphin’s Naval Power after a terrific stretch drive between two English-bred 4-year-olds.

Ridden to perfection by Flavien Prat, who saved ground until tipping out at the top of the stretch, then diving through a narrow opening between fading front-runner Never Surprised and Naval Power, Program Trading out-gamed his opponent to the wire, winning by a head.

The son of Lope de Vega covered 1 1/8 miles on a good turf course in 1:50.30 and paid $10.18 to win on a $2 bet.

The win was the second stakes of the day for Brown, who finished 1-2-3 in the G2 Longines Churchill Distaff Turf  Mile Stakes with Chili Flag, Coppice, and Delahaye.

Naval Power was two lengths clear of third-place finisher Webslinger, who made a menacing move to engage for the lead at the top of the stretch but could not sustain the bid in the final furlong. Integration finished fourth, followed by Far Bridge, Siege of Boston, 2-1 favorite I’m Very Busy (Brown’s other starter, who was fractious in the starting gate), Anglophile, Never Surprised, and Cellist. Never Explain was scratched.

“We had a great trip and were able to save ground as much as we could,” said Prat. “I didn’t want to go too wide. He’s a very handy horse, so that makes my job easier.”

The ground-saving trip on turf has become a trademark ride for Prat. He was tucked in just behind Never Surprised for most of the trip, as Florent Geroux nursed the son of Constitution through fractions of :24.48, :49.51, and 1:14.36 through six furlongs. Frankie Dettori had Naval Power positioned just off Never Surprised flank after breaking from the outside post position. Runner-up to Charles Appleby stablemate Master of the Seas three weeks earlier in the G1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in his last start, Naval Power always looked to be ready to pounce on the front-runner.

They stayed that way into the stretch turn, with Dettori urging his mount to the lead and Prat waiting for an opening. He found room once straightenening away, raced past Never Surprised, then engaged with Naval Power in the final furlong, winning by the narrowest of margins.

The winner, produced from the Oasis Dream mare, Dreamlike, was bred by Fittocks Stud & Arrow Farm & Stud. He was purchased for about $356,000 at the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale but has raced his entire career in the U.S.

Breaking his maiden at first asking at Monmouth Park in May 2023, Program Trading became a Grade 1 winner in his third start, winning the Saratoga Derby Invitational by a head over Webslinger. After a second-place finish in the G3 Virginia Derby last September, Brown gave the ridgling a break between races before sending him west to Del Mar, winning the G1 Hollywood Derby on Dec. 2, once against defeating the Mark Casse-trained Webslinger. 

Program Trading then had a break, working back into condition at the Payson Park training center in south Florida before shipping to Kentucky in late April.