Motown Men targets Brubaker

DEL MAR, Calif. – Motown Men won for the third time in his last five starts in a competitive optional claimer in Friday’s sixth race at a mile. The win will lead to a start in the $80,000 Harry Brubaker Stakes at a mile Aug. 26, trainer Ted H. West said on Saturday.

In Friday’s race, Motown Men ($8.40) closed from seventh in a field of nine under jockey Tyler Baze to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Solid Wager. He ran a mile in 1:36.49. Motown Men was on the inside throughout and moved to the front turning into the stretch. Earlier in his career, Motown Men typically ran near the front.

“He shows a new dimension every time,” West said. “I liked it at the half-mile pole. He settled. He rated very nicely.”

Motown Men races for Gulliver Racing and has made five starts since he was claimed for $40,000 on March 8. Since being claimed, Motown Men has earned $206,830. He won the Tiznow Stakes for California-bred milers at Santa Anita on May 23 but was 10th in the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on June 27. The optional claimer was his first start since the Gold Cup.