Birdrun shakes loose in Brooklyn

Preston Stables' BIRDRUN (Birdstone), the lone speed in Friday's $147,000

Brooklyn H. (G2), made all the fractions in the 1 1/2-mile fixture around one

lap of the historic Belmont Park oval. Guided by Rajiv Maragh through splits of :24 4/5,

:49 3/5, 1:13 4/5, 1:38 1/5 and 2:02 4/5, the Florida-bred turned back a

challenge from 2010 Belmont S. (G1) winner Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor) at the

top of the stretch and drew off to score by 3 3/4 lengths in a time of 2:28 1/5

over a fast track. He returned $7.30, $3.10 and $2.50 as the 5-2 co-second

choice.

Drosselmeyer raced in second most of the way but could not close the gap

after such a modest pace. The 6-5 favorite easily held the place by 2 1/2

lengths over the 7-1 Alma d'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro). Eldaafer (A.P. Indy), who was

seeking his second win in the Brooklyn after taking the 2009 edition, showed

some early foot before retreating to fourth. Afleet Again (Afleet Alex) trailed

throughout.

A maiden-claiming graduate at three, Birdrun was unplaced in his first two

forays in stakes company, but improved enough near the end of 2010 to beat a

graded quality field in the Carl G. Rose Classic H. at Calder. Among the

vanquished in that Florida-bred stakes was multiple Grade 2 winner Duke of

Mischief (Graeme Hall), recent winner of the Charles Town Classic (G3). Sixth in

the Sunshine Millions Classic after a poor start and fifth in the New Orleans H.

(G2) after a wide trip, Birdrun finished a neck second behind Drosselmeyer in

the May 15 One Count S., a 1 1/4-mile prep for the Brooklyn over the Belmont

strip.