Bricks and Mortar Leads Brown's Breeders' Cup Workers

Bricks and Mortar and Sistercharlie led a busy morning of turf workers for Chad Brown Oct. 20 at Belmont Park as the trainer sent out his Breeders' Cup contenders.

Klaravich Stables and William Lawrence's four-time grade 1 winner and Horse of the Year candidate Bricks and Mortar worked in company with Without Parole on the inner turf. Bricks and Mortar completed his five-furlong breeze in 1:00.02, while Without Parole went 1:00.01—the fastest of 10 works at the distance.

"He's in top form. He's got one more work, and he's been doing great," Brown said of Bricks and Mortar.

Brown has been on the fence on whether Bricks and Mortar would race in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) or the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T), but he is leaning toward the latter.

Peter Brant's defending champion turf female Sistercharlie worked a half-mile in company in :49.05 on the inner turf.

"It was just maintenance work. She worked with Thais, and she worked really well," Brown said.

Sistercharlie is being pointed for a repeat victory in the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T). A win would make her the first horse to score back-to-back wins in the event.

Thais also is being pointed toward the Filly and Mare Turf.

Dual grade 1 winner Uni recorded her first work since winning the First Lady Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland when breezing a half-mile in 49.53. Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables' runner will face males in the Breeders' Cup Mile.

Grade 1 winner Decorated Invader, trained by Christophe Clement for West Point Thoroughbreds, William Freeman, and William Sandbrook, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.83 on the inner turf in preparation for his upcoming start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T).

Clement said Decorated Invader will ship to Santa Anita Park a week from Monday.

"I thought he had a very good work this morning," Clement said. "Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard, and I'm very excited with how he is doing. He will get one more easy work either Friday or Saturday, and then we will look to ship out to California."

Clement also plans to send out Pure Sensation for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T). "Paco Lopez will ride him in the Breeders' Cup, and everything seems to be in order heading into the race," Clement said.

Tobey Morton and Chuck Hovitz's Crystalle, who will make her next start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T), breezed four furlongs in company with Nashua Stakes (G3)-bound Famished in :49.55 on the inner turf Sunday.

"She worked very nice, and we're on target. Joel (Rosario) said she worked good and finished up well. I had the last quarter in :22 and 4," trainer John Kimmel said.

Last out, Crystalle closed from last of eight to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile Miss Grillo Stakes (G2T) on the Belmont turf. She will have just one mile to negotiate in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.

"It's a real challenge for the way the race will set up compared to what she's been doing," Kimmel said. "They'll be going much quicker and it's a shorter race, so she'll have to overcome some things that may be to her disadvantage. She can't find herself way out the backdoor, so (Rosario will) have to be cognizant of the pace and put her in a position where she has a chance."

Kimmel said Crystalle will have one more bit of serious work before shipping to California next Sunday.

"She'll do something easy on Saturday morning. She's fit," he said. "So maybe something a little better than a two-minute lick to get her a little sharper."

Blue Devil Racing Stable's Come Dancing continued to impress trainer Carlos Martin in her morning works. She worked six furlongs in 1:10.20 Saturday on the Belmont training track under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano.

The 5-year-old Malibu Moon  mare will make her next start in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1).

"She was sensational," Martin said. "You don't go out there with the intent of going three-quarters in 1:10, but she's going in the right direction. She came back great and ate up well. So far, we're in good shape."

Two starts back, Come Dancing gave Martin his first grade 1 victory in 28 years when she took the Ketel One Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga.

Martin said the Filly and Mare Sprint will likely be her final start and that she could be bred to Quality Road .

"(Owner Marc Holliday) mentioned that the plan is to breed her. We have a good relationship with Lane's End," Martin said.