Brown still not set on BC spot for Bricks and Mortar

ELMONT, N.Y. – With each passing week and as he watches another solid workout, trainer Chad Brown wavers on exactly what to do with Bricks and Mortar. Initially saying he was leaning toward cutting the four-time Grade 1 winner back in distance for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile, Brown said he is now giving serious thought to stretching Bricks and Mortar out to 1 1/2-miles in the $4 million Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita.

“I’m very much 50-50,” Brown said Sunday at Belmont. “Put it this way, the mile-and-a-half race is very much under consideration at this point the way he is training. He’s settling in his works and finishing and coming back with a tremendous amount of energy after his works. He’s as fit as he’s ever been.”

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Brown spoke after Bricks and Mortar worked five furlongs in 1:01.76 Sunday morning over Belmont Park’s inner turf course. Bricks and Mortar worked in company with the Group 1 winner Without Parole, starting a half-length behind that one and finishing a head in front through a 23.21-second final quarter. It was Brick and Mortar’s eighth work since he won the Grade 1 Arlington Million on Aug. 10.

Bricks and Mortar is 3 for 3 at one mile. He has never tried 1 1/2 miles. Brown does not have another horse he is planning to run in the Turf. He does plan to run Uni in the Mile, though that is not likely to factor in his decision.

Brown said he “probably will” pre-enter Bricks and Mortar in both the Mile and Turf giving him and owner Seth Klarman the opportunity to evaluate the competition in both races. Pre-entries for the Breeders’ Cup must be made by Oct. 21.

Without Parole, a 4-year-old son of Frankel, won the Group 1 St. James’s Palace Stakes at the 2018 Royal Ascot meet. He has lost five consecutive Group 1 stakes and was shipped to Brown from John Gosden over the summer.

Sunday was his sixth work for Brown. Looking long-range, Brown believes Without Parole could be a fit for the $7 million Pegasus Turf at Gulfstream in January with a start or two before then.

“Seems to be a really nice, straightforward horse,” Brown said. “He was sent to me very sound, he was well looked after by his previous trainer.”

New and Improved pointed to American Oaks

New and Improved, who rallied from last to win Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point Stakes at Belmont Park, will likely be pointed to the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita in late December, trainer Chad Brown said.

“We always thought a lot of her, she ran well,” Brown said. “She’s shown in just three career starts she has the ability to step up fast. I’d expect her to keep improving.”

New and Improved, a daughter of Cairo Prince owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables, earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for the Sands Point. Brown and Klarman won last year’s American Oaks with Competitionofideas.

Brown reiterated his desire to stop on Cambier Parc, winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland. Cambier Parc, who also won the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks during the summer, is still at Keeneland until a final decision is made on her immediate future by owner Larry Best.

“If we do stop on her and give her a break we want her in Kentucky for at least a month or so,” Brown said.