After Derby trouble, Brooklyn Strong looks to regroup in Belmont

New York-bred Brooklyn Strong, trained by Danny Velazquez for owner Mark Schwartz, will look to make amends after a difficult 15th-place effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby when he returns in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 5.

The Wicked Strong gelding captured the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in December ahead of an even fifth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial in April at Aqueduct.

Last out, Brooklyn Strong endured a troubled trip from post 3 under Umberto Rispoli in the Kentucky Derby.

"We got smashed coming out of the gate. It was a bad post and he had 18 horses in front of him," said Velazquez. "It was messy but he made up some ground at the top of the stretch. The gallop out was real strong. The jockey said he had horse but there was a lot of kickback. The first five horses that broke on top, that's how the race ended. It was tough to make up ground."

Last year, Tiz the Law became the first New York-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes since Forester in 1882. Velazquez said Brooklyn Strong, also bred in the Empire State, will breeze Saturday at Parx in preparation for the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion."

"He came out of the Derby good and is doing real well. We have him pointed towards the Belmont. I think he'll like the added distance," said Velazquez. "We have two big works scheduled for him here. He'll work this Saturday and next Saturday."

Out of the Medaglia d'Oro mare Riviera Chic, Brooklyn Strong was bred in the Empire State by Cheryl Prudhomme and Dr. Michael Gallivan.

No jockey assignment has been confirmed for Brooklyn Strong, who has partnered with a different jockey in each of his six career starts.