SARATOGA SPRINGS — Ava Brown is only three weeks old, and already she’s been to the winner’s circle at Saratoga Race Course four times.

Her most recent trip came Monday afternoon, when Ultimate Event, a 4-year-old filly trained by her dad, Mechanicville native Chad Brown, won the finale, paying $13.60.

Brown’s wife, Terrill, gave birth to the couple’s first child on

Aug. 5.

“Everything’s going along pretty good,” said Brown, continuing what has been a truly outstanding solo training debut at his hometown track. “Really, if you win any race at the meet here, you’re doing good.”

Earlier on Monday, Brown won the fifth race with 2-year-old first-time starter Maram ($17). From 15 starts this summer, Brown has six wins, four seconds and $198,548 in purse money.

He won the meet’s first race on opening day with Star Player ($12.20), and has followed with Midtown Bullet ($10.60) on

July 25, Spanky Fischbein ($2.90) on Aug. 10 and Ardanvagh ($4.90) on Aug. 20.

“We knew that we were going to run at least a half-dozen horses, if not eight or 10, that we thought had great chances,” Brown said. “But when you’re at Saratoga, and you think you’re going to be 2-1, you’re 8-1. Instead of one other horse to beat, there’s four every race. That’s the tough part.”

Brown has no horses entered on Wednesday or Thursday, but is hoping to fire a few more shots before the meet ends on Sept. 1.

“I’m going to try,” he said. “You never know when you enter horses here if they’re going to get in or what races they’re going to use, but I have a couple more horses I’d like to run.”

SITTING ON READY

All systems are go as 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin closes in on his return to the races.

The 4-year-old son of Smart Strike put in his final preparation for Saturday’s Grade I Woodward with a half-mile breeze on the Oklahoma training track Monday morning.

Under exercise rider Carlos

Rosas, Curlin was clocked in :49.14 for four furlongs, the fourth-fastest time of 25 horses at the distance. He went the first eighth in :13.01, and the first quarter-mile in :24.98.

“He went great,” Rosas said. “He was on the bridle and he wanted to do more, but that’s all they needed. We want to leave enough in the tank.

“He was all business this morning. He’s very professional. Once you step on the track, he knows what’s going on. He knows what’s coming. He’s ready to rumble.”

Curlin went out at his usual time, shortly before 6 a.m., but without his recent workmate, Hawaii Calls, a 4-year-old colt also owned by Stonestreet Stable.

“We’re ready. We just didn’t need much today,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen, who is out of town. “We got the work we needed in him last week. He went really well. He looked good, strong and smooth.”

Monday’s work was the sixth for Curlin at Saratoga, each a week apart. He was sensational in a six-furlong move in 1:24.84 on Aug. 18, which came over Saratoga’s main track.

GETTING CLOSER

Undefeated Grade I winner Bustin Stones continues to progress from a stone bruise that knocked him out of the Grade II A.G. Vanderbilt July 26.

Trainer Bruce Levine said that Bustin Stones is nearing his first timed work since July 19.

“He’s galloping now, and I might breeze him before we leave here,” Levine said. “I’ll see how the weather’s doing; otherwise, I’ll just do it when we get home. I might ship him home early, too; I’m still trying to figure things out.”

Owned and bred by Troy native Roddy Valente, Bustin Stones is 6-for-6 lifetime, but has not raced since winning the Grade I Carter April 5.