Brooklyn Strong

New York-bred Brooklyn Strong won his debut, a waiver maiden claiming race, at Delaware Park on Sept. 12, 2020. Off of that three-length score, trainer Danny Velazquez entered him in the seven-furlong Bertram. F. Bongard Stakes at Belmont Park in early October, and he finished third.

Brooklyn Strong then started in the one-mile Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont on Oct. 24, like his prior start a race restricted to New York-breds. He won the Sleepy Hollow by 2 ¼ lengths, giving his connections the confidence to test him in a major class hike: the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct on Dec. 5.

In the Remsen, Brooklyn Strong broke well but was taken off the pace set by favorite Ten for Ten by Joel Rosario. He moved up to engage Ten for Ten at the top of the stretch, and finished well to outduel that foe and win the 1 1/8-mile race by a neck. Brooklyn Strong earned 10 qualifying points for the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve with the victory.

Owned by Mark Schwartz, Brooklyn Strong is a son of Wicked Strong out of the stakes-placed winning Medaglia d’Oro mare Riviera Chic. He is from the family of Grade 2 winner and millionaire Recoup the Cash and Grade 2 winner Summer Applause.