Bricks and Mortar Finishes Perfect Season in BC Turf

Punctuating a flawless 6-for-6 campaign, Bricks and Mortar staked his claim for Horse of the Year honors with a determined head victory over longshot United in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.

As he has done throughout the year, the 5-year-old owned by William Lawrence and Klaravich Stables produced just enough, finding room at the head of the stretch and wearing down a brave runner-up. It was his first win in his lone attempt at 1 1/2 miles after racing in middle-distance turf races for much of the year.

During the first half of the race, it looked as though the slower pace, which unfolds with races at an extended distance, might prove his undoing. Racing between horses in fifth as longshot Acclimate set fractions of :48.44 and 1:13.26, Bricks and Mortar was keen, tugging at jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and giving trainer Chad Brown a degree of concern.

But as Acclimate carried the field to the mile marker in 1:37.91, Bricks and Mortar became more settled, leaving Ortiz with horse in reserve. He tipped him out at the top of the lane after being bottled up, and the horse did the rest. Seventh with a quarter-mile to race, Bricks and Mortar advanced into fifth with a furlong to go and hit the front inside the final sixteenth. 

Bricks and Mortar completed the distance in 2:24.73 on firm turf. Shortly past the finish, Ortiz celebrated with a fist pump.

"This is a special horse. He might be the best I've ever ridden," the rider said. "Today, he was a little keen with me, so we were closer to the pace than normal. So I just tried to get him to relax. When I asked him to run, I looked behind me and saw we were clear. He saw that other horse in front of us, and he fought all the way to the wire. I knew it was very close, but I thought we won it."

The crowd expressed its approval, applauding as he walked back to his barn in front of the grandstand after the race.  

Now the question is whether Eclipse Award voters will appreciate him to the same extent. Although Horse of the Year typically goes to a dirt horse, it is not without precedent for a grass horse to secure the coveted prize. In 1993, Kotashaan earned Horse of the Year after winning the Turf. 

"He certainly has been leading the poll since April, and I think winning today, showing the heart that he showed, he's certainly our Horse of the Year, and hopefully he'll be the voters' (choice)," Lawrence said.

The victory was the third of the weekend for Brown and his 15th in the Breeders' Cup.

The winning mount was one of four over the two-day event for Ortiz, who followed the Turf by winning the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Vino Rosso . Ortiz has nine Breeders' Cup wins.

"This horse is remarkable," Brown said. "This is the biggest win of my career and the biggest for my team, for sure. He has a lot of guts. What an awesome horse."

Flavien Prat—aboard United, who took a short lead in midstretch—was full of praise for his mount as well as the winner.

"He made a huge run. I mean, I thought I was going to win turning for home," he said. "A great horse beat us, but it was an amazing race from my horse."

Anthony Van Dyck ran best of the European invaders to be third, 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up. He was followed by Zulu Alpha in fourth and Alounak in fifth.

A son of Giant's Causeway, Bricks and Mortar won his fifth grade 1 of the year following scores in the Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes (G1T), Manhattan Stakes (G1T), Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1T), and Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T). He also took the Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T) between the Pegasus and Turf Classic.

He has won 11 of 13 starts and $7,085,650, accomplishments that led Shadai Farm in Japan to purchase his breeding rights as a stallion.

Bred in Kentucky by George Strawbridge Jr., Bricks and Mortar is out of the Ocean Crest mare Beyond the Waves. He was a $200,000 purchase by Oak Bluff Partners from the consignment of Stone Farm at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Video: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T)