Warrant needs right trip to succeed in wide-open Brooklyn

ELMONT, N.Y. – The consistent millionaire Warrant heads a competitive edition of the Grade 2, $250,000 Brooklyn Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/2 miles Saturday on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Conditioned by Brad Cox, Warrant captured the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby as a 3-year-old in 2021 before embarking on a productive 2022 campaign. Although winless from five starts last year, Warrant placed in four graded stakes, including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap. He finished second, beaten 2 3/4 lengths in last year’s Brooklyn.

Warrant has raced four times this year and enters the Brooklyn following a gritty neck victory in the Isaac Murphy Overnight Stakes going 12 furlongs last month at Churchill Downs.

“He came out of it well,” Cox said. “He’s always been a tricky horse to me. There’s been times when I thought he was going to run a good race, and he just ran even. There are times when I think he’s tailing off and maybe lost a step, and then he jumps up and runs a big race like he did last time.”

For Warrant to succeed, Cox believes that “things have to go his way, and when they do, he’s got the ability and the talent to compete at the graded stakes level.”

Cox wants Warrant close to the pace. “Once he turns for home, if he’s right there, he’ll give it to you. If he’s four [lengths] off it, he’s not really mowing anybody down.”

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Next improved substantially when stretched out in distance last year, capturing the off-turf Cape Henlopen at Delaware at 1 1/2 miles and Keeneland’s Grade 3 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at 1 5/8 miles.

A 5-year-old gelding, Next finished third behind Warrant and Red Run when the beaten favorite in the Isaac Murphy, but should improve with that race, his seasonal debut, under his girth. Luan Machado rides for William Cowans.

Lightly raced Bright Future has competed exclusively in one-turn mile races, and now stretches out four furlongs for his graded stakes debut after finishing third in a second-level allowance at Churchill on May 6.

“He’s a galloping sort,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He’s not one that we’re going to have to worry about being rank, which I think is always key in these 1 1/2-mile races. The pedigree is there. We feel like he fits the profile.”

Lone Rock won the Brooklyn in 2021 and finished third in last year’s edition. He placed ahead of Warrant when second in Oaklawn Park’s Temperence Hill on April 2, then finished last of six in the Isaac Murphy.

“I just think it wasn’t his day,” said trainer Robertino Diodoro. “Ramon [jockey Vazquez] said when they hit the backside, he was off the bridle and had no horse left.”

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Diodoro is pleased with Lone Rock’s training. “His work last weekend was very impressive. I think we’ll see the old Lone Rock on Saturday. He’s a pro.”

Grade 3-placed Portos, Red Run, Alfio, multiple stakes-winner Forewarned, Temperence Hill winner Calibrate, Centavo, and Code Runner complete the field.

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