Matrooh to try stakes next

ELMONT, N.Y. – Overshadowed by the stakes action Saturday at Belmont was the terrific performance by Matrooh in a third-level allowance race featuring the return of the multiple stakes winner Samraat. Matrooh, trained by Chad Brown, dueled with Samraat through a half-mile in 46.12 seconds and three-quarters in 1:10.46 before putting him away and holding at bay Catholic Cowboy.

“That horse really attended a very quick pace and then dug in when he was hooked in the lane,” Brown said. “I was very impressed with that horse but not surprised. That horse has trained great since they sent him in to me. His only defeat [in the United States] was when he got a terrible trip at Keeneland. He was getting some kickback and got out of position.”

Matrooh was beaten only 1 3/4 lengths at Keeneland by Noble Bird, who came back to win the Grade 1 Stephen Foster.

Brown said he will look to run Matrooh in a stakes but did not know where or when. One possibility is the Alydar Stakes on Aug. 9 at Saratoga.