Bricks And Mortar Turf Favorite
photo credit Eclipse Sportswire / Breeders’ Cup Photos ©
Acclimate – Acclimate had a 1 1/4m gallop around the Santa Anita training track for trainer Phil D’Amato as he winds down his preparation for Saturday’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. The California-based conditioner said he prefers the training track for his turf horses.
“I think the tight turns more closely replicate those of the turf course and the consistency of the training track seems similar to a synthetic surface,” D’Amato said. “It’s the next best thing to actually training on the turf. This horse is on his game now. He’s racing fit and really likes this course.”
Bricks and Mortar –Turf favorite Bricks and Mortar continues to impress as he prepares to stretch out to 12f in the weekend’s top grass affair for trainer Chad Brown and owners Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence. On Wednesday morning, he left Barn 48 along with stablemates Sistercharlie and Dunbar Road and galloped 1¼m on the Santa Anita main track.
The son of Giant’s Causeway, who is slated to go to stud in Japan after this final test, has yet to race beyond 10f, but has proven dominant up to that trip, including a rousing victory last out in the Arlington Million in Chicago. Brown believes his charge has every right to get the job done against a field that includes Investec Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Longines Dubai Sheema Classic winner Old Persian.
“Occasionally he can be a little bit of a headstrong horse with a touch of a light mouth, but he’s been really settling nicely in his works,” Brown said. “If he runs in this race the way he’s been settling, he’s going to run quite well. It’s a solid field and there’s several horses in there who if they run their best race, they’re going to be equally as tough.”
More Breeders’ Cup updates here.
