The Brooklyn – Grade II
BEL Race #3 1 1/2m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Admiration Mb Stables Velazquez J R

The top stable in the game comes here with a very strong hand not least with last years BEL winner and Preakness runner up in Questionable. He was unlucky in the BC Dirt Mile getting a coffin draw but ended last year among the best of his age group. The four year old season of the top three year olds is always difficult but though he hasn’t won in three efforts so far he has run well enough to suggest he comes here ready to do his best from a great draw for his running style.

2 Magne Account RNP Stables Corrales G

This five year old was third in last years Marathon so clearly likes this sort of trip but he has struggled a little since and you have to wonder if after thirty races he is getting jaded. Forget his run in the Louisville Handicap last time that was just the silly effect of the soft ground he should be better judged on his strong second in the Ali the time before that. He gets the draw everyone wants today so there are no excuses.

3 L A Raw D J C Racing Stables Contreras L

Last years Suburban Handicap winner he was long odds that day and looks to be an upset again today. he ran much better than the final finishing position of tenth in the Commonwealth last time and was fourth in this race last year so if he can find his form again he could be looking at another long odds victory.

4 For The Boys Fractious Gaffalione T

He went through a purple patch as a three year old finishing a close third in the Haskell and then a closer second in the Travers, after a great run in the PA Derby he ended that run of fine form with a win in the Greenwood Cup over this trip. His form hasn’t been too bad since and i do have the feeling that DJC Racing Stables may have let him go a little cheaply at $100. The new stable looks to rub salt into the wound today and he certainly isn’t an outsider in this tough field.

5 Dauzac TwinTowersRacing Tunon M

Doesn’t win often but has run pretty close to the best dirt routers in the game so its easy to make a case for a horse whose trainer knows how to send outsiders to win these big races. He was beaten just a length from a wide draw in the Pegasus World Cup and was much better than the finishing position of ninth last time out in the OP Handicap. I never write off one from this stable and you would be a fool to write this one off.

6 Questionable Mb Stables Court J K

This four year old was a top two year old, being beaten a neck in the BC Juvenile, then a top three year old winning the Queens Plate and now after three runs looks to be a top four year old too. He ran very well from a wide gate in the SA Handicap and then last time out came from a mile back to win the Tokyo City Cup over this trip. The stable sends two of the stables top dirt routers here today and could be looking at a one two finish.

7 Wolfmoon Bay Night Rider Stables Castellano J

This would be some win if this nine year old can conquer his age and beat some of the best long distance champs in the game. He was mighty impressive in the Marathon at CD last time coasting home by an easy two lengths but that was a little way off the level of this race but in itself was a great win for probably the oldest horse in training here at HRP.

8 Instagooglefacetweet Threshold Beschizza A

Beat Questionable in the Marathon last year and ran very well in the CT Classic last time out when a strong third after getting near the front with a furlong to run. He will clearly relish this trip on that Marathon win but he struggles from a wide draw so its more up to the race engine than him as to how he runs today.

9 Kaunakakai The Sidley Stud Bejarano R

Fourth in the Marathon last year so he is right in this and is pretty fresh only having had the one start so far this year. Not out of it but the wide gate will make it tough unless its one of those races with crazy early pace in which case he could come late and wide.

SUMMARY

An open affair but Mb Stables draws well with both his superstars so you woud expect one of them to win. Of the two Admiration may have the edge. Of the others For The Boys may give D J C some indigestion and get some of the action and if the race engine is kind to Instagooglefacetweet he may be close at the end.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES