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Grade 2 Winner Brooklyn Strong Returns From Layoff In Friday’s Alex M. Robb

Brooklyn Strong, a New York-bred son of Wicked Strong, returns from a six-month layoff in Friday's nine-furlong $100,000 Alex M. Robb, a nine-furlong test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up.

“The long layoff is a big question, but he's doing really well,” trainer Daniel Velazquez said. “We think he's going to fire, but we just don't know for sure if he'll need a race. We know he can get the distance, it's just a physical thing now.”

Owned by Mark Schwartz, Brooklyn Strong won the one-turn mile Sleepy Hollow in October 2020 at Belmont to secure Velazquez his second career stakes win – just one race after Laobanonprayer provided the conditioner his first stakes score in the Maid of the Mist.

Bred in the Empire State by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan, Brooklyn Strong completed a terrific juvenile campaign in December 2020 with a neck score in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Remsen at the Big A.

Brooklyn Strong left the inside post in the nine-furlong G2 Wood Memorial in April at the Big A, passing tiring horses late to finish fifth ahead of a distant 15th in the G1 Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

He was last seen finishing fourth in the 1 1/16-mile Pegasus on June 13 at Monmouth Park.

“We scoped him after the Pegasus and he bled a little bit. We noticed he dropped a lot of weight and he just wasn't the same horse after the Derby,” Velazquez said. “So, we decided he needed a mental pause and we could bring him back fresh. He gained a lot of weight coming in off the farm in New Jersey and he's doing everything he's supposed to do moving forward. He's matured a lot and I think the pause did him well.”

Brooklyn Strong has trained steadily at Parx dating back to early November, including a six-furlong breeze from the gate in 1:17.03 on Dec. 21.

“We popped him out of the gate and the surface was real deep that day, so the time wasn't the fastest but he did it easily,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez said he is looking forward to seeing his star pupil back in action.

“He's a real important horse for me. He's the horse that put me on the map and took me to the Derby, so he has a lot of sentimental value for me,” Velazquez said. “Moving forward, he's doing really well and doing everything I want him to be doing. He looks great. I just want to see him compete and show that he's back.”

Velazquez said Laobanonaprayer – who is also owned by the conditioner – returned to his care at Parx three weeks ago to prepare for a 2022 campaign.

Bred in New York by Christina Deronda, the 3-year-old daughter of Laoban followed her Maid of the Mist score with an eight-length romp in the 2020 NYSSS Fifth Avenue. Boasting a record of 9-3-2-1 with purse earnings of $301,150, Laobanonaprayer completed her sophomore season with an allowance win against older company on July 24 at Delaware Park.

“She's just back in training. We gave her a little time off after her win at Delaware. She's about two months out,” Velazquez said.

Velazquez will saddle Collin's Grey Lady, a promising 2-year-old daughter of Frosted, in Wednesday's seven-furlong $100,000 Parx Futurity.

Owned by Charles Fiumano, the Kentucky-bred debuted sprinting 5 1/2-furlongs against the boys with a troubled sixth on November 24 at Parx. She followed up two weeks later at the same track to best a field of six juvenile fillies by four-lengths in a one-mile maiden special weight.

“I think she has a good future,” Velazquez said. “We debuted her against the boys – not by design – we just missed the filly race. She got a lot of experience that race. I still think she could have won. She had a terrible trip stuck on the inside – checked, stopped – it was just bad racing luck that day. We ran her back two weeks later going a mile and she won with ease.

“She still has a lot of maturing to do,” Velazquez added. “She has to learn her lead changes, but she's doing really well.”

Listed at 6-1 on the morning line, Collin's Grey Lady will exit post 4 under Abner Adorno.

New York-bred Battle Station is entered in the six-furlong $100,000 Blitzen today at Parx.

Owned by Robert Bone and Edward Brown, the 6-year-old graded stakes placed son of Warrior's Reward boasts a record of 41-8-8-5 with purse earnings of $625,075.

A turf sprint specialist the past two seasons, Battle Station enters from an optional-claiming score over the Laurel Park dirt on November 14.

“I need a barn full like him. He's awesome,” Velazquez said.

Listed at 8-1 on the morning line, Battle Station will emerge from post 13 under Angel Cruz.

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After ‘Messy’ Kentucky Derby Run, Brooklyn Strong Will Try To Make Amends In Belmont Stakes

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.

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Remsen Winner Brooklyn Strong On Target For Wood Memorial

Trainer Daniel Velazquez wanted to point Brooklyn Strong to last weekend's Grade 3 Gotham at the Big A, but after a minor illness and lack of works due to inclement weather at his Parx Racing base, the New York-bred colt is on target for the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino on April 3 at Aqueduct.

On Saturday, Brooklyn Strong posted his third breeze since February 26, covering five-eighths in 1:01.13 on Saturday at Parx.

Velazquez was not on hand for the breeze after incurring a lacerated liver and torn bicep earlier Saturday morning in a training accident at the Bensalem, Pa., oval. The conditioner said he expects to be released from the hospital Sunday evening.

“He went by himself from the pole. Hopefully, we can hit one work a week up to the Wood,” said Velazquez of Brooklyn Strong's breeze.

Owned by Mark Schwartz, the Wicked Strong bay is out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Riviera Chic. Bred in the Empire State by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan, Brooklyn Strong was purchased for $5,000 at the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.

A winner at first asking in a one-mile maiden claimer in September at Delaware Park, Brooklyn Strong made his next two starts against state-breds at Belmont finishing third in the seven-furlong Bertram F. Bongard before capturing the one-turn mile Sleepy Hollow.

Brooklyn Strong stretched out to nine-furlongs on December 5 in the Grade 2 Remsen at the Big A and bested Ten for Ten by a neck to garner 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. A good result in the Wood, which offers 100-40-20-10 qualifying points, would put Brooklyn Strong in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May.

“We know he can get the nine furlongs, I just want to make sure that he's ready,” said Velazquez. “We have another three weeks before the Wood and if we can get all the works in without interruption, I know we'll be ready.”

Velazquez said he does not have a rider lined up yet for the Wood. Joel Rosario was in the irons for the Remsen score while Jose Ortiz had the call in the Sleepy Hollow.

New York-bred sophomore filly Laobanonprayer, owned and trained by Velazquez, finished a disappointing fourth last out in the $250,000 Busher Invitational, an open one-turn mile on March 6 at the Big A.

With Big A winter meet leading rider Kendrick Carmouche up, Laobanonaprayer settled into a pocket trip in fourth but could not gain ground during the stretch run in which Search Results overtook the pacesetting Miss Brazil to earn the win.

“The race didn't set up well for her,” said Velazquez. “It was a dead track and the pace was extremely slow in front of her. It wasn't just that race in particular, every race was slow and the horses weren't coming back. Kendrick said she felt good and she fired, but the pace makes the race.

“We're going back to the drawing board with her. Maybe we'll just keep her in the New York-bred races,” added Velazquez. “She heads back to the track tomorrow for the first time after she ran and I'll know more after that.”

Bred in New York by Christina Deronda, the talented bay is by Laoban and out of the Raffie's Majesty mare Raffie's Chance. She was purchased for $15,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale.

Laobanonaprayer kicked off a memorable day for Velazquez on Empire Showcase Day at Belmont Park when capturing the Maid of the Mist to provide the conditioner his first career stakes win. Brooklyn Strong followed up one race later by winning the Sleepy Hollow.

The next likely open-company stakes spot on the NYRA calendar for Laobanonaprayer is the nine-furlong Grade 2, $250,000 Gazelle on April 3.

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Distorted Humor, More Than Ready Colts Fastest At OBS Winter Mixed Sale’s Under Tack Show

Colts by More Than Ready and Distorted Humor breezed three-eighths in :32 2/5 to post the fastest works at the distance at the Under Tack Show for Racing Age section of the Ocala Breeders' Sale Company's 2021 Winter Mixed Sale.

Hip No. 306, a dark bay or brown 4-year-old colt by More Than Ready consigned Woodard Sales, Agent, is out of Fanfire, by Elusive Quality, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Straight Story.
Hip No. 315, consigned by Oscar Brown Stables, is a 3-year-old bay colt by Distorted Humor out of graded stakes placed stakes winner Goldstryke Glory, by Second in Command.

Two horses turned in three-eighths in :32 3/5.

Hip No. 262, Herecomesyourman, a 7-year-old gray or roan gelding by Distorted Humor consigned by Woodard Sales, Agent, is a half brother to graded stakes winner Know More out of Seattle Qui, by Seattle Slew.
Hip No. 338, Brother Brody, consigned by L. G. Agent, is a 3-year-old dark bay or brown colt by Brody's Cause out of Mesa Mist, by Sky Mesa, from the family of graded stakes placed Logan's Mist.

Three worked in the distance in :32 4/5.

Hip No. 256, consigned by Wes Carter, Agent, is a 3-year-old dark bay or brown filly by Tourist out of stakes winner Red's Round Table, by Cuvee, from the family of graded stakes winner Sun and Snow.
Hip No. 274, Lemon Creek Louie, a 3-year-old bay gelding by Beautyinthepulpit also consigned by Wes Carter, is out of Swimmer, by Rock Slide, from the family of stakes winner Miss Running Vany.
Hip No. 303, Tipsy Tourist, a 3-year-old dark bay or brown filly by Tourist consigned by L. G. Agent, is out of Dyslexicperfection, by Congrats, a daughter of stakes winner Perigee Girl.

Three horses worked in :33 flat.

Hip No. 278, consigned by Wes Carter, Agent, is a 3-year-old dark bay or brown gelding by Wicked Strong out of Tricky Game, by Medaglia d'Oro, a half-sister to stakes-placed Twenty Eight Hours.
Hip No. 312, Edmund Fitzgerald, a 4-year-old bay colt by Carpe Diem consigned by Woodard Sales, Agent, is out of graded stakes winner Gitchee Goomie, by City Zip.
Hip No. 349, Angel Embrace, consigned by Rod McVey, Agent, is a 3-year-old bay filly by Winslow Homer out of St. Borealis, by War Chant, from the family of stakes winner Dancewiththebride.

Four of the horses in the sale are coming in after winning recent races.

Hip No. 360, Pledge, a 3-year-old filly by Candy Ride consigned by Six K's Training & Sales, Agent, was a 6-1/2 length winner of a maiden special at Turfway Park on Jan. 2. She's a half sister to graded stakes placed stakes winner Hello Don Julio out of Faithful, by Vindication.
Hip No. 362, Kramden, scored at Tampa Bay Downs on Jan. 24. The 4-year-old gelding by Kitten's Joy, consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, Agent, is out of First in Time, by Broken Vow, and is a full brother to graded stakes placed Surf and Turf.
Hip No. 368, Bear Brian, consigned by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent for Stonestreet Stables LLC, broke his maiden at Sam Houston Race Park on Jan. 9. The 3-year-old bay colt by Tiznow is out of stakes winner Lil Super Bear, by Super Saver.
Nip No. 370, Lower for Longer (IRE), also consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, broke her maiden on Jan. 24 at Tampa Bay Downs. The 3-year-old bay filly is out of Logicana, by Iffraaj, a half sister to graded stakes winner Doctor Dino (FR).

A few more pedigree updates since the catalog was printed:

Hip No. 10, a 2-year-old filly by The Fifth Sun consigned by Coolmade, Agent, has newly-minted stakes-placed half-sister in Erawan, third in Laurel's Howard County Stakes on Dec. 26.
Hip No. 518, a 2-year-old colt by Noble Bird consigned by Sue Vacek, Agent, is a half-sister to Adios Trippi, winner of Tampa Bay's Gasparilla Stakes on Jan. 16 and third in the Cash Run Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 1.

The workouts were recorded and can be viewed on the OBS website, in their entirety or by individual hip number. They are also available in the Video Room as well as several kiosks in the breezeway and covered walking ring. Visitors to Ocala will find the videos available for in-room viewing at The Courtyard by Marriott, Holiday Inn & Suites, Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Residence Inn and the Ocala Hilton, plus lounge viewing is available at the Hilton. Under Tack Show results are posted on the OBS website.

In addition to Under Tack Videos, Walking Videos and conformation photos may be available for the entire catalog.

The sale begins on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m. with Hip No.'s 1 -183 cataloged in the Consignor Preferred Session. The Horses of Racing Session, cataloged as Hip No.'s 251 – 371, begins immediately following the conclusion of the Preferred Session. The Open Session, with Hip No.'s 451 – 805 cataloged, is set for Wednesday, Jan. 27 and will also begin at 10:30 a.m.

To view the under-tack show's full results, click here.

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