Brickyard debuts for new barn in Governor's

Brickyard will make his first start in his home state when he attempts to win the final stakes of the Indiana Downs season, the $70,000 Governor's, on Tuesday.

Brickyard campaigned in New York earlier this year for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Ronny Werner now has the 3-year-old, who is owned by Vision Racing LLC.

Werner is confident about Brickyard's chances in the Governor's, a mile turf race for Indiana-bred 3-year-olds.

"He has been doing really well. He has a series of nice works and he is ready to go," Werner said said. "I expect a big effort from him. We entered him in the last stake they had, but he came up with a fever and we had to wait. He is good to go now."

Brickyard won a Monmouth Park maiden race by 1 1/2 lengths while making his fourth career start last time out on May 9. In his prior start, he finished second in a maiden race at Aqueduct on Feb 25, earning a 77 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest of any of the 11 entrants in the field.

Werner isn't concerned about switching Brickyard, a son of Street Cry, to turf.

"He is a big strapping colt and he is bred for the turf," he said. "I think the mile distance and surface are just what we are looking for. It looks to be a perfect spot."

Brickyard was purchased for $175,000 from Keeneland's 2008 2-year-old sale. He will continue to run in the Indiana-bred races when Hoosier Park opens.

"It just looks like the right spot for him right now," said Werner.

Should the Governor's come off the grass, Hoosier Kingdom should have a say in the outcome. Trained by Ron Herrell, Hoosier Kingdom is 3-for-3 over wet tracks since coming to Indiana Downs, including an eight-length win in the Snack Stakes on June 13 over a track labeled wet-fast. His two other local victories came over sloppy tracks. Hoosier Kingdom has yet to attempt two turns, however.