New York-bred Brooklyn Strong, trained by Danny Velazquez for owner Mark Schwartz, will look to make amends after a difficult 15th-place effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby when he returns in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets on June 5.
The Wicked Strong gelding captured the Grade 2 Remsen at the Big A in December ahead of an even fifth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in April at Aqueduct.
Last out, Brooklyn Strong endured a troubled trip from post 3 under Umberto Rispoli in the Kentucky Derby.
“We got smashed coming out of the gate. It was a bad post and he had 18 horses in front of him,” said Velazquez. “It was messy but he made up some ground at the top of the stretch. The gallop out was real strong. The jockey said he had horse but there was a lot of kickback. The first five horses that broke on top, that's how the race ended. It was tough to make up ground.”
Last year, Tiz the Law became the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes since Forester in 1882. Velazquez said Brooklyn Strong, also bred in the Empire State, will breeze Saturday at Parx in preparation for the 1 1/2-mile “Test of the Champion.”
“He came out of the Derby good and is doing real well. We have him pointed towards the Belmont. I think he'll like the added distance,” said Velazquez. “We have two big works scheduled for him here. He'll work this Saturday and next Saturday.”
Out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Riviera Chic, Brooklyn Strong was bred in the Empire State by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan.
No jockey assignment has been confirmed for Brooklyn Strong, who has partnered with a different jockey in each of his six career starts.
Velazquez said New York-bred Laobanonaprayer will work Saturday at Parx towards a start in the $125,000 Bouwerie, a seven-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, part of New York Breeders' Showcase Day on Memorial Day featuring six stakes for horses bred in the Empire State.
“That's the target. She'll work Saturday,” said Velazquez. “If she works the way I want her too, then we'll come to New York on the 31st.”
Owned and conditioned by Velazquez, Laobanonaprayer graduated at third asking in the Maid of the Mist in October at Belmont providing Velazquez his first stakes win.
She followed with an eight-length score in the seven-furlong NYSSS Fifth Avenue in December at Aqueduct ahead of a good second in the Franklin Square in January on a muddy Big A main track.
After two off-the-board efforts, including a head-scratching sixth in the NYSSS Park Avenue last out on April 18 at Aqueduct, Velazquez said he expects a return to form from the Laoban bay.
“I'm just drawing a line through it,” said Velazquez. “She worked great last week and I'd like to see her do that again on Saturday and hopefully come back fresh.”
Out of the Raffie's Majesty mare Raffie's Chance, Laobanonaprayer was bred in New York by Christina Deronda.
The post After ‘Messy’ Kentucky Derby Run, Brooklyn Strong Will Try To Make Amends In Belmont Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
