Structor

The first graded stakes winner for ultra-popular racehorse-turned-sire Palace Malice, Structor turned on the class Sept. 28, winning the Pilgrim Stakes (G3) at Belmont in fine style for trainer Chad Brown and owners Jeff Drown and Don Rachel. The victory followed a smart win over the same 1 1/16-miles turf distance at Saratoga Aug. 31. It was Saratoga maiden-to-Pilgrim prep framework used by the Brian Lynch-trained Oscar Performance en route to success in the 2016 Juvenile Turf (G1).

Structor’s mother is the More Than Ready mare Miss Always Ready, who is a full-sister to Juvenile Fillies Turf winner More Than Real. He was an $850,000 OBS March purchase this year by Mike Ryan from consignor Pick View.

Structor will be the first Breeders’ Cup starter for Drown and Rachel, who are both based in Minnesota and work in contracting. Drown is the CEO of Lyon Contracting, while Rachel is the CEO of Rachel Contracting. Together they do not own many horses, but have compiled a record of 3-1-2 from 11 starts over the last two years since entering the business together. Drown has owned horses since 2006 in various other partnerships.  

Brown is a three-time defending champion trainer whose prowess on turf is unparalleled within the United States. The former Bobby Frankel assistant has started 83 times in the Breeders’ Cup and has won 12 races, with 10 of those on grass. He has had 10 or more starters in every Breeders’ Cup since 2013. His record in the Juvenile Turf has been a bit disappointing, with 11 starters and zero winners. Noble Tune, second in 2012, was his best run. Noble Tune also won the Pilgrim.

Palace Malice, the 2013 Belmont Stakes winner, was sixth in that year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).