Bricks and Mortar capped a brilliant year with a spectacular win in Saturday’s $4 million Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park.
The win was the seventh consecutive success for the five-year-old Chad Brown trainee who maintained a perfect six for six in 2019 with five grade 1 wins.
Photo Copyright Eclipse Sportswire -Courtesy of Brandon Bauer of the Racing Dudes
Acclimate shot right to the front along with Bandua and the pair set fractions of :24.81, :48.44, and 1:13.26.
Close behind was the even-money post time favorite Bricks and Mortar followed by Anthony Van Dyke. United and Channel Maker were close behind with the field strung out behind as they made their way 1 ½ miles around the Santa Anita turf course.
As they approached the final turn, Acclimate and Bandu continued to lead while United moved up into third.
Bricks and Mortar, with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, sat comfortably in fifth and waited to make a final big move. With seemingly perfect timing, Bricks and Mortar shot like a cannon to the front to duel it out with United who had taken up the lead in the stretch.
Bricks and Mortar, with his perfect 2019 record on the line, got the best of United and finished first by a head for Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence. Anthony Van Dyck continued on for third followed by Zulu Alpha and Alounak.
“This is a special horse,” said winning jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. who has been aboard Bricks and Mortar for each of his six wins this year. “He might be the best I’ve ever ridden.”
Not only did Bricks and Mortar maintain his perfect record on the year with his win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but he also brought his lifetime earnings above the $7 million mark with a career record of 13: 11-0-2 making him a leading contender for Horse of the Year.
This was the third Breeders’ Cup win of the weekend for Chad Brown who also had winners in the Turf Mile (Uni) and in the Juvenile Turf (Structor).
“This horse is remarkable,” said trainer Chad Brown. “This is the biggest win of my career and the biggest for my team for sure. He has a lot of guts. What an awesome horse. We’re so, so fortunate he’s in our barn.”
Bricks and Mortar, dk b/br, 5/h
Giant’s Causeway — Beyond the Waves, by Ocean Crest
Owner: Klaravich Stables, Inc. & Willliam H. Lawrence
Breeder: George Strawbridge Jr. (KY)
Trainer: Chad C. Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
