Bricks and Mortar gets up late
Third choice runs down favorites down the stretch
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Despite being undefeated in three starts, Bricks and Mortar could do no better than third choice at 4-1 in Friday’s $200,000 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2).
With a furlong to run, the race looked like it would likely be decided between Yoshida (2-1) and Big Handsome (3-1), the two favorites, who were out in front by a couple of lengths. But Bricks and Mortar, having enjoyed a ground-saving trip, was guided out several paths and, once in gear, ran down the two favorites under a vigorous hand ride from Joel Rosario. The official margin of victory was threequarters of a length. The time for 8 ½ furlongs was a swift 1:39.47 over firm turf.
Yoshida headed Big Handsome for the place, with Snap Decision next in fourth. Makarios, Parlor, Arklow, Secretary At War and Bonus Points also ran.
“He’s everything you want to see in a three-year- old, whether it’s a dirt horse or a turf horse,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “He’s constantly proving that he has the will to win. With this horse, if you set him down in the clear and give him a target, he gets there.
“I thought Joel (did a really good job) to get him out of the gate, and get a good pocket forwardly placed,” Brown added. “From there, it’s turf racing. Either he’s going to get through or he’s not.”
Longshot Secretary At War took care of the early pacesetting duties, taking the field through a moderate half-mile in 48.11 seconds. His lead gradually diminished on the turn, and when the field turned the corner, Secretary At War, Yoshida and Big Handsome were lined up across the track. The latter two soon left Secretary At War behind, and looked like they might be clear until Bricks and Mortar — who had burst through a gap between horses — ranged up on the outside to spoil the party. The winner flew the final 2½ furlongs in
around 27½ seconds.
“I was down inside and had to stay where I was, but I just took my time to take him out,” said Rosario, who has ridden Bricks and Mortar in all four starts. “He tries hard every time, so I knew he had the turn of foot to get home.”
Bricks and Mortar, a son of Giant’s Causeway, races for Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence. The winner’s share of the Hall of Fame fattens his bankroll to $256,800.