By Joe Bianca
The imposing presence of Klaravich Stables and Bill Lawrence's Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway) has not scared off the competition in Saturday's GI Old Forester Turf Classic S., and the 5-year-old will have to overcome the 12-hole in the deep 13-horse group.
Winning four in a row to begin his career, including tallies in the GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame S. and Manila S., as a sophomore in 2017, the dark bay was laid up after a third-place run in the GIII Hill Prince S. that fall and returned to capture a Gulfstream optional claimer Dec. 22. He proved his world-class ability with a convincing score in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. after that, but encountered the stiffest challenge of his career last out in the GII Muniz Memorial H. at Fair Grounds Mar. 23. Laying much closer to the pace than usual, Bricks and Mortar needed every inch of Fair Grounds's long stretch to best 62-1 longshot Markitoff (Giant's Causeway), who re-opposes here.
Trainer Chad Brown has ample backup if Bricks and Mortar doesn't fire. Peter Brant's Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of the GI Hollywood Derby last fall, will look to rebound from a fourth-place run in the GI Maker's 46 Mile S. last out Apr. 12 at Keeneland. Woodford Racing's Ticonderoga (Tapit) looks for his first stakes success since annexing the 2017 GIII Palm Beach S. and most recently was an impressive victor of a Gulfstream optional claimer Mar. 14.
The only horse to return from last year's Turf Classic is Pin Oak Stable's Synchrony (Tapit), who was third in the 2018 renewal. The chestnut is a five-time graded stakes winner and was last seen running third while attempting to defend his title in the Muniz.
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