Birdrun took the lead early and never looked back in the Brooklyn Handicap (gr. II) this afternoon at Belmont Park, drawing away from favored Drosselmeyer in the stretch to win the race by three lengths.
Under Rajiv Maragh, the colt broke well from gate four but was bumped by Afleet Again shortly after the start when that one broke outward. But he was eager to go and Maragh allowed him to race away to take the lead. He set a fairly slow pace while being tracked by Drosselmeyer, winner of the 2010 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) just over one year ago. Alma d'Oro was poised three wide in third, followed by Eldaafer along the rail and Afleet Again, who was far, far behind early on.
Turning for home, Birdrun was confronted by Drosselmeyer but turned back the 6-5 favorite's bid, gradually pulling away for a decisive victory. He stopped the clock in 2:28.24 for the mile and a half.
Drosselmeyer finished two lengths clear of Alma d'Oro, who just held third by a half-length over Eldaafer. Afleet Again trailed the field, but made up a lot of ground in the stretch to be not badly beaten at all.
-Keelerman
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