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Bricks and Mortar Likely To Run In Turf

Author: Don Mckee
Published: Monday October 21, 2019
In trainer Chad Brown's preparations for the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, he sent out multiple turf workers. One of those was four-time Grade 1 winner Bricks and Mortar, who is also a top candidate for Horse of the Year. He has said that he is leaning towards running Bricks and Mortar in the Turf. 

Bricks and Mortar worked alongside Without Parole, who won the Group 1 St. James's Palace at Royal Ascot over the inner turf. Bricks and Mortar's five-furlong breeze was completed in 1:00.02, and Without Parole finished it in 1:00.01. Without Parole's time was the fastest of 10 works that have been recorded at that distance. 

Speaking of Bricks and Mortar, Brown said, "He's in top form. He's got one more work, and he's been doing great." 

This comes as Brown has been balancing whether or not to run Bricks and Mortar in the Grade 1 $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Mile or the Grade 1 $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf. 

"I'm going to pre-enter in both races, but right now, I'm leaning toward the Turf," Brown said.

Campaign Opened With A Bang

Bricks and Mortar is owned by Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence, and his campaign opened with a bang after winning the inaugural running of Gulfstream Park's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational in January. 

The possible Horse of the Year then went on to take the Grade 2 Muniz Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in March, and he won his next three starts. In the Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, the Manhattan Handicap at Belmont Park, and the Arlington Million at Arlington Park, Bricks and Mortar beat Grade 1 company. 

Sistercharlie, Thais, and Others

Defending Champion Turf Female Sistercharlie also worked on Sunday for Brown. She went with stablemate Thais, and they finished a half-mile in 49.05 over the inner turf. Both horses are owned by Peter Brant. 

"It was just maintenance work. She worked with Thais, and she worked really well," Brown said.

Sistercharlie is looking to score a repeat victory in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf. She is coming off six straight Grade 1 wins, the most recent one being the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park on Oct. 6. 

If Sistercharlie is able to take the Filly and Mare Turf, she will become the first horse to take back-to-back wins in it. The only other horse to come close was Ouija Board, but they were non-consecutive victories in 2004 and 2006. 

Also looking to run in the Filly and Mare Turf is Thais, who took third in the Flower Bowl. 

Uni, a two-time Grade 1 winner, had her first work since taking the Grade 1 First Lady at Keeneland. She breezed a half-mile in 49.53 seconds. 

Uni is owned by Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables. She is the 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready. 

The impressive horse finished third in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at Saratoga against two colts, and she will go against all males in the Grade 1 $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile. 

Lastly, Brown also worked Juddmonte Farms' Flavius, who has not yet raced in the United States. The son of War Front has started three times, and he has worked five times since joining trainer Brown's barn. His last race was a victory in a non-grouped stake event at Leopardstown in Ireland, which was a year ago.

"He's doing fine. He's come along well. He's not ready to run, but he's getting close. Probably a couple of more works away," Brown said.