Derby Dreams: Sierra Leone Puts Mechanicville Trainer in Spotlight

Could this be the year that horse trainer and Mechanicville native Chad Brown capture the elusive Kentucky Derby crown? Out of eighteen horses in the field he has two and one is the odds-on favorite.

This weekend marks the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby. This will be the eighth time Mechanicville's own Chad Brown has had a horse in the run for the roses. Something is different this time around Brown has the favorite, Sierra Leone whose odds are 3 to 1.

Chad Brown's best chance this year at the Kentucky Derby is Sierra Leone and this spirited cold won the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland. This made him the points leader.

The other horse that Chad Brown trains is Domestic Product and unlike Sierra Leone this is the longshot of the field of eighteen at 30-1.

According to Spectrum News, Chad Brown is optimistic saying,

We’ve had some good shots before but have yet to win the race. So, maybe this year will be different. It’s always tough when you come close but don’t win. You start to wonder if you’ll ever get there.

The Kentucky Derby is Saturday, May 4th at Churchill Downs. If Chad Brown were to win it would be his first and this year he has two horses that can get him there. If one of them does win, it will be a testament to hard work and teamwork. I know all of Mechanicville will be proud along with his family and friends.