Bricks and Mortar up in time to win Old Forester Turf Classic
Bottled up in the back of the pack on the first turn and in traffic on the second, Bricks and Mortar overcame plenty Saturday to win the Grade 1, $1 million Old Forester Turf Classic at Churchill Downs.
Run a race before the Kentucky Derby, the Turf Classic looked primed for an upset as they turned for home, with Markitoff leading Clyde’s Image through some moderate fractions.
Qurbaan took his turn at the lead before Bricks and Mortar, under Irad Ortiz Jr., surged past in the final strides, completing nine furlongs in 1:51.80.
“He finds more,” said Chad Brown, who trains for Klaravich Stables. “He knows where the wire is. This horse has tremendous heart. He’s a model of consistency. I love this horse.”
It was the fourth straight win for Bricks and Mortar, a 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway who put his name on the map by winning the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) earlier this season.
Bricks and Mortar had six horses to pass with a quarter mile to go. On his way to a narrow score, he bumped with March to the Arch, then led to another Ortiz Jr. fist bump as the passed the wire.
From here, Brown said Bricks and Mortar will target the Manhattan (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.