Rose Brier confirms affinity for Laurel's turf in Henry Clark Stakes
Rose Brier remained unbeaten in three starts over Laurel Park’s turf course and collected his 12th career victory with a front-running score in Saturday’s $75,000 Henry Clark Stakes.
A 7-year-old gelding trained by Jane Cibelli for Panic Stable, Rose Brier ($7.20) sped to the lead from post 9 under Trevor McCarthy and maintained a daylight margin while setting fast fractions of 23.96 seconds, 46.93, and 1:10.05. A son of Mizzen Mast, Rose Brier completed a mile on "good" turf in 1:33.11 and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Golden Sabre.
“The older he gets it seems like the sharper he gets and the better he gets,”said McCarthy, who was also aboard Rose Brier when he began his current three-race winning streak in the restricted Bert Allen at Laurel last September. “Today, he just jumped out of the gate and was like, ‘Hey, let’s go. I’m ready.’ I let him do his thing and he relaxed out there real nice.”
It was the 11th win in 27 starts on turf and the 12th victory in 31 starts overall for Rose Brier, who prepped for this start by wiring a group of optional $35,000 claimers at Gulfstream Park in his first start of the year on March 24.
Phlash Phelps, last season’s Maryland-bred champion turf horse after going 4 for 4, chased Rose Brier in second throughout most of Saturday’s race before getting passed by Golden Sabre in deep stretch. Golden Sabre, making his first start for trainer Graham Motion, was a two-time graded stakes winner at Woodbine last year. He got second by a half-length.