BRICKS AND MORTAR WEARS DOWN QURBAAN TO WIN $1 MILLION OLD FORESTER TURF CLASSIC

May 05, 2019 Churchill Downs Communications

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, May 4, 2019) – Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence’s Bricks and Mortar surged past Qurbaan in the final yards to win the 33rd running of the $1 million Old Forester Turf Classic (GI) for 4-year-olds and up.

Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., Bricks and Mortar covered the 1 1/8 miles on the firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:51.80.

Markitoff led the field through fractions of :24.33 and :50.10 with Clyde’s Image in closest pursuit and Bricks and Mortar racing in mid-pack. On the far turn, Clyde’s Image went after Markitoff and Qurbaan moved three wide to join the leaders.

In the stretch, Qurbaan finally inched in front at eighth pole only to have Bricks and Mortar run him down late for the victory.

The victory was worth $570,400 and increased the bankroll of Bricks and Mortar to $3,768,650 with a record of 10-8-0-2 that includes two Grade I victories.

Bricks and Mortar returned $4.20, $3.40 and $2.80. Qurbaan, ridden by Mike Smith, returned $9.80 and $6.60 and finished 1 ¼ lengths in front of Clyde’s Image who paid $9.20 to show under Luis Saez.

It was another two lengths back to Raging Bull (FR) with March to the Arch, Markitoff, Synchrony, Sabador (FR), Ticonderoga, Next Shares, Multiplier, Prime Attraction and Breaking the Rules following in order.

OLD FORESTER TURF CLASSIC QUOTES

IRAD ORTIZ JR. (rider of Bricks and Mortar, winner) – “It's a great day. I can't complain. Nice horses. He's a nice horse. He did everything right. He put himself in the game and took me all the way to the stretch and when I asked him he exploded. He's a horse when you ask him, he responds right away.'

CHAD BROWN (trainer of Bricks and Mortar, winner) – “He has a tremendous heart. I'm just so proud of him. He had to work for it today. He might not win by a lot, but he knows where the wire is. He's a super-talented colt. The ($1 million Grade I) Manhattan (on June 8) is next.'

MIKE SMITH (rider of Qurbaan, runner-up) – “That was a heartbreaker. He ran so good; too good to lose. Those kind are hard to take.”

LUIS SAEZ (rider of Clyde’s Image, third) – “I had a clean trip and thought I had chance to win at the top of the stretch. He responded nicely but the winner was too fast.”