Trainer Chad Brown has a pair of Canadian classics hopefuls in Robert V. LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables' Kalik, last-out winner of the nine-furlong Pennine Ridge (G2) on the Belmont inner turf; and Peter Brant's Big Brass Bed, who finished a wide and troubled fourth Thursday in a 1 1/16-mile optional-claimer over the inner turf at Belmont Park.
Ontario-bred Kalik, by Collected and out of the Street Cry mare Coronation Street, will point to the $750,000 Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) at 10 furlongs on turf for sophomores on July 8 ahead of an attempt at the $1-million King's Plate, a 10-furlong Tapeta test for Canadian-bred sophomores on August 20 at Woodbine Racetrack. The race is the first jewel in Canada's Triple Crown. Kalik could be joined in the Belmont Derby by Klaravich Stables' British-bred Redistricting.
Bred in Ontario by Peter A. Berglar Racing Interests and Anderson Farms, Kalik was off-the-board in his September debut over the Big A main track. The $200,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase has since made four starts over turf, graduating at third asking in March at Gulfstream Park ahead of an optional-claiming score in May here leading into his victorious stakes debut.
“As a 2-year-old last year we liked him and we were trying to figure out if he was dirt or turf,” Brown said of the talented chestnut named for the popular Bahamian beer. “He trained good on dirt early but it didn't work, so we put him onto the grass and he's really excelled.”
Ontario-bred Big Brass Bed, by Nyquist, graduated at second asking in May over the Monmouth Park turf. She is pointed to the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, a nine-furlong Tapeta test for Canadian-bred sophomore fillies on July 23 at Woodbine. The race is the first jewel in Canada's Triple Tiara for fillies.
“She got a bad trip and took a bad step in the stretch,” said Brown of the chestnut's last-out effort. “She's recovered OK and we'll just draw a line through it. The Woodbine Oaks will be next.”
Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms, Big Brass Bed is out of the Smart Strike mare Precision Farming. She was purchased for $175,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
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