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Saratoga-area trainer Chad Brown ready for ‘unique opportunity’ of upstate Belmont Stakes

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Saratoga-area trainer Chad Brown ready for ‘unique opportunity’ of upstate Belmont Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Chad Brown doesn’t have to take his colt Sierra Leone to the Belmont Stakes this year because the Belmont Stakes is coming to them.

“I grew up in the area, close by,” said the 45-year-old Brown, who hails from Mechanicville, population a little north of 5,000 and situated 16 miles to the southeast of Saratoga Springs.

He told The Post that when he set out to be a trainer, he always dreamed of winning the Travers Stakes, the late-summer Saratoga prize that thus far has eluded him.

Horse trainer Chad Brown smiles outside of his barn at Saratoga Race Course on Tuesday. Jason Szenes

He said it was “unthinkable” that he’d ever have a chance to win a Triple Crown race at his home track, but thanks to a multiyear renovation of Belmont Park, here we are.

“Surprisingly and amazingly they’re having the Belmont here in historic Saratoga,” he said. “So it’s quite a unique opportunity, and to have the favorite for the race is just really incredible.”

Indeed, Sierra Leone, who finished second by a nose in the Kentucky Derby in a three-horse photo finish, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s race.

His odds are upstaging a battle between Mystik Dan (5-1), who won the Derby, and Seize the Grey (8-1), who captured the Preakness.

Much of the support for Sierra Leone is fueled by the expectation he would have won the Derby if not for some deep-stretch bumping with third-place finisher Forever Young.

Trainer Chad Brown listens to questions from the New York Post in his office in Barn 52 at Saratoga Race Course on Tuesday. Jason Szenes

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who was fined for touching rival Forever Young, has been replaced aboard Sierra Leone by Flavien Prat.

“It’s hard to speculate outcomes but at a minimum they didn’t help each other,” Brown said from his office inside Barn 52. “My horse certainly didn’t help himself by leaning in and not running straight. If [Sierra Leone] had kept a straight line it’s hard to imagine he wouldn’t have won. But that’s horse racing. … A nice consolation prize would be the Belmont.”

Another of the prominent storylines for Saturday’s race is that the Belmont will be conducted at a mile and a quarter instead of its usual mile and a half.

That extra distance is part of the reason for the race’s nickname, the Test of a Champion, particularly true when a horse is able to win all three races of different lengths in a five-week span.

Is the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes any less of a test of a champion?

“I think if a Triple Crown were at stake you could make that argument, but it’s still a pretty high-quality test,” said Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, who is saddling three contenders — Antiquarian with legendary New York jockey John Velazquez (12-1), Protective (20-1) and second-favorite Mindframe (7-2).

This year’s Belmont Stakes will be held at venerable Saratoga Race Course in a special four-day meet as Belmont Park undergoes renovations. Jason Szenes

“It’s going to be a little different. I mean, the Test of a Champion at a mile and a half at the old Big Sandy Belmont track is a very unique race and I would never try to compare it to a mile and a quarter at Saratoga,” Brown said. “They’re just different races. Equally as challenging to win, but different. I don’t think it’s any less of an accomplishment for whoever wins the race but it will be unique in its own right.”

One issue on which there’s no debate is that the relocation of the Belmont Stakes to Saratoga for the next two years will create a huge windfall for the region.

Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, estimates this week’s four-day racing festival will generate upwards of $50 million.

A statue of Secretariat on the grounds at Saratoga Race Course. After famously winning the Triple Crown in 1973, Secretariat lost in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga Race Course — also known as the “Graveyard of Champions.” Jason Szenes

He says the calculation is based on last year’s 40-day meet accounting for $370 million in business.

Ten percent of that would be $37 million but the figure is upgraded for larger crowds and higher prices for local hotels.

Early arrivals to town couldn’t help but notice the ubiquitous green Belmont Stakes at Saratoga flags adorning 140 lamp posts on Broadway and Union Avenue.

And the main Broadway business strip was closed to traffic on Wednesday night for a live concert featuring Blues Traveler.

As for tickets, they went fast, like these horses.

NYRA sold all general admission seats and hospitality packages for Saturday’s card in just a few days over the winter.

The secondary market delivers options that are available but expensive, such as $2,460 at Ticketmaster for a club seat and buffet.

NYRA is still offering face-value single-day general admission and hospitality packages for Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

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