By DRF.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 1, 2022) — Surely there had to be a reason California-bred Brickyard Ride quit early in the Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita. The 3-10 favorite after winning four successive stakes, Brickyard Ride caved at the quarter pole and finished fifth under Juan Hernandez. It turns out he had an alibi – an irritating quarter crack in a hind foot.
“He came out of the race with a foot bothering him,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “Juan said he didn’t push off like he usually does, and we’re assuming that’s the reason. He just didn’t run his race.”
It was not his first quarter crack, just the first to affect performance. Brickyard Ride had a quarter crack in a front foot early this year.
“Once we got it patched it stayed good, cold, and never affected him,” Lewis said. “This one did affect him. He just wasn’t himself.”
Brickyard Ride was to ship Wednesday to San Luis Rey Downs for hyperbaric treatment. After 10 days, he will return to Santa Anita and resume training. He can still make a July 30 target race at Del Mar – the six-furlong Grade 1 Bing Crosby or Grade 2 San Diego at two turns. Lewis and owner-breeder Sonny Pais will not allow the one misfire to detract from an outstanding meet in which Brickyard Ride won 4 of 5.
“We had a bad day, but he gave us some good days,” Lewis said. “He’ll live to fight again.”
Principe Carlo drops split decision
Trainer Librado Boracio could have chosen an easier spot for California-bred sprinter Principe Carlo, such as last Saturday’s Thor’s Echo against California-breds. Instead, Boracio chose the Triple Bend against Brickyard Ride. Why the tougher spot?
“He’s Frazier, I’m Ali. Let’s go,” Boracio said, laughing.
The trainer was in good spirits even after Principe Carlo lost the Triple Bend by a nose to American Theorem. Boracio instructed jockey Kyle Frey to go after Brickyard Ride early.
“If we’re going to win, let’s use our best asset,” Boracio said. Principe Carlo “wants to look them in the eye.”
He sizzled a half-mile in 44.09 seconds, put away Brickyard Ride, but got worn down. As sometimes happens, the runner-up ran better than the Triple Bend winner. Here’s hoping American Theorem and Principe Carlo meet again this summer at Del Mar.