Homeland Security gives Brown another River Memories victory

ELMONT, N.Y. – Firm ground, a truly run race, and a patient, ground-saving ride from Irad Ortiz Jr. all added up to a return to the winner’s circle for Homeland Security in Sunday’s $100,000 River Memories Stakes at Belmont Park.

Sitting fourth early on, Homeland Security gradually worked her way into contention leaving the three-furlong pole, tipped to the outside turning for home, and caught longshot Savannah Belle at the sixteenth pole to win the River Memories by one length. It was one length farther back to Summersault in third.

The win was the third in six starts for Homeland Security, a 4-year-old daughter of Smart Strike owned by Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence and trained by Chad Brown. This was Brown’s third victory in four runnings of the River Memories.

Homeland Security was beaten as the 4-5 favorite in a second-level allowance here May 20. That day, in a race run over yielding turf, Flower Fashion ran off to a double-digit-length early lead, and Ortiz had to move sooner than he wanted on Homeland Security, making up all but 1 3/4 lengths of a 14-length deficit. It was Homeland Security’s first start in eight months.

“That was a tricky race. I had to move a little early, she came from a little layoff,” Ortiz said. “Today, she was ready to run.”

Though Flower Fashion was back in the River Memories, she led by only three lengths early before conceding the lead to Savannah Belle after an opening half-mile in 49.24 seconds.

Ortiz kept Homeland Security in fourth, about three lengths off the lead, while on the fence, and she began to move closer entering the far turn. Homeland Security didn’t show an electric turn of foot in the stretch but kept grinding away to get the victory. She covered the 1 1/2 miles in 2:26.11 and returned $10.20 as the third betting choice.

“I got a good position. I wanted to stay on the rail as long as I can,” Ortiz said. “I waited till the three-eighth pole to make my move. At the quarter pole, I tipped her out, and she was able to get there.”