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Brass Hat romps to Donn crown Fred Bradley's BRASS HAT (Prized) closed fast on the far turn and carried his momentum into the stretch drive of Saturday's $500,000 Donn H. (G1), collaring Pies Prospect (Crafty Prospector) near the eighth pole and quickly drawing clear for a 4 3/4-length decision. Sidelined for nearly 13 months due to a condylar fracture, the five-year-old returned to the races with a vengeance last fall and has now won three straight stakes. The Donn marked both his Grade 1 debut and his initial start on the East Coast, and the Midwest-based gelding dominated. With regular rider Willie Martinez, the William "Buff" Bradley trainee covered nine sloppy furlongs in an excellent 1:47 3/5. "The rain did not concern me at all," said Bradley, who conditions the homebred for his father. "This horse will run over anything. He could run up I-95 or go run in the snow. I was glad to see the fast pace, and when he got to third, I felt pretty confident. "I told my dad, 'We got it now.' I can't describe this. It's a dream...just a dream for my dad, for me and for everyone whose been involved with this horse." A speed duel developed immediately with On Thin Ice (Tactical Cat) and 2-1 favorite Suave (A.P. Indy) duking it out through an opening quarter in :23 and Magna Graduate (Honor Grades) in close attendance just behind them. Magna Graduate seized a slim lead on the backstretch, getting the next two splits in :45 4/5 and 1:09 2/5, but he began to weaken on the far turn and surrendered the advantage to Pies Prospect. Brass Hat, who was reserved well off the early pace, began to rapidly pick off rivals while four wide on the final bend and caught Pies Prospect soon after he straightened into the stretch run, setting the mile split in 1:34 4/5. There was no suspense the rest of the way. Despite easily winning the New Orleans H. (G2) in his previous outing, Brass Hat was the second highest-price on the tote board at 8-1 and gave back $18.60, $8.40 and $6.20 to his supporters. "We had a lot of respect for those other horses, but I don't think they had a lot of respect for us," Martinez said. "I told Buff last year that this horse would be even better this year, and I think he is." Pies Prospect, who was off at 4-1 as part of a three-horse entry, finished 3 1/4 lengths in front of his stablemate Andromeda's Hero (Fusaichi Pegasus), who edged Magna Graduate in the final strides for the show. The entrymates both paid $5.40 and $5.60. West Virginia (Tomorrow's Cat) took fifth and was followed under the wire by Suave, Seek Gold (Touch Gold), Super Frolic (Pine Bluff) and On Thin Ice. The $1 gimmicks returned $49 (exacta), $210.40 (trifecta) and $1,767.60 for the 7-1-5-4 superfecta. The Kentucky-bred winner is out of the unraced Brassy (Dixie Brass) and counts the winning four-year-old Ricki S as a full sister and the unraced three-year-old Brazen Brass (Grindstone) as a half-sister. His female family traces to 1978 Fantasy S. (G1) winner Equanimity (Sir Ivor). Brass Hat launched his career in a maiden claiming event at Turfway Park in 2004, but he quickly climbed the ladder, winning the Rushaway S. in his third career start and the Ohio Derby (G2) and Indiana Derby (G2) later that season. He returned from injury last November and won the Prairie Bayou S. in mid-December before taking the New Orleans. Now 13-6-4-0 overall, Brass Hat topped $1 million in earnings ($1,217,090) with the $300,000 payday. Bradley said that the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on March 25 or Oaklawn H. (G2) on April 8 were both options for his next appearance.
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