Velazquez trying to make Wood Memorial with Brooklyn Strong

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Brooklyn Strong, unraced since winning the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct on Dec. 5, is attempting to train up to the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, trainer Danny Velazquez said this week.

Brooklyn Strong got sick and then missed significant training time due to poor track conditions at Parx, where he is based. Brooklyn Strong returned to the work tab on Feb. 26 with a three-furlong move in 36.89 seconds and was scheduled to work again over the weekend.

“He’s going to be going every Friday or Saturday from now on,” Velazquez said. “The target is the Wood for him. If we need to buy another week we can go to the Arkansas Derby. I think if I can get five more works without a hiccup, without Parx interrupting my training, I think we’ll be fine.”

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Brooklyn Strong, a son of 2014 Wood Memorial winner Wicked Strong, went 3 for 4 at age 2 with victories in the Sleepy Hollow for New York-breds at Belmont and the Remsen.

◗ Risk Taking, the Withers Stakes winner, missed a workout last weekend due to poor track conditions at Belmont Park. Trainer Chad Brown said Risk Taking would likely return to the work tab this weekend. In his lone breeze since the Withers, Risk Taking went a half-mile in 50.06 seconds over the Belmont training track on Feb. 21.

“I feel like we’re ahead of schedule,” Brown said. “He’s had two mile-and-an-eighth races. He’s very fit.”