Brilliant Speed thrives back on turf in Saranac

Rounding the far turn, Live in Joy launched a bold move and was poised to

circle the leaders, but he couldn't control his own momentum. Live in Joy veered

out badly into the stretch and ran himself right out of contention.

The hedge-hugging Queen'splatekitten retained command, finally put Chinglish

away, and inched one length clear through one mile in 1:37. Then Brilliant Speed

arrived on the scene. Producing a terrific turn of foot, he inhaled

Queen'splatekitten and drew off, finishing 1 1/8 miles on the firm inner turf in

1:48 3/5. Brilliant Speed furnished mutuels of $6.50, $4.20 and $3.10.

"A perfect trip," Velazquez recapped. "I knew there wasn't going to be a lot

of speed, so I wanted to be in nice position. I had a good hold of him. He was

going nice the whole way around. At the quarter-pole, I asked him and he

responded right away. A very good effort. He's a better horse on the grass. No

doubt."

"We'll keep our options open," Albertrani said regarding surface preference.

"He showed more kick today, which is what I had wanted to see on the dirt. All

things considered, he might just have to stay on the grass; Polytrack might also

be an option. Johnny kept him a little closer to the pace today and didn't let

the lack of speed get away. He had a nice kick today. I think we'll stick with

the Jamaica ([G1] on turf at Belmont Park October 8)."

Queen'splatekitten saved second by a half-length from the rallying King

Congie. Sky Blazer (Sky Mesa), who reared and hit the gate at the start, was

still last of 10 in midstretch, but flew home to miss third by a head. Perregaux

came in fifth, trailed by Chinglish, Seal Cove (Strong Hope), the wayward Live

in Joy, Clement Rock (Strong Hope) and Canaveral (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]).

Moonhanger (Malibu Moon) and Pass the Dice (Lemon Drop Kid) were scratched.

Brilliant Speed's second career stakes victory advanced his record to

12-3-2-3, $700,750. The Florida-bred broke his maiden in his fifth try as a

juvenile, checking that box in a 1 1/16-mile turf test at Tampa Bay Downs on

December 26, and stayed on the grass for his first two outings at three at

Gulfstream Park. After suffering a photo-finish loss in the January 16 Dania

Beach S., he crossed the wire a close but troubled third in the February 6

Hallandale Beach S., and was promptly elevated to second via the

disqualification of King Congie.

His next appearance came in the April 16 Blue Grass, a dynamic effort that

earned him a spot in the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1). Not disgraced when seventh

in the Run for the Roses, he tried again in the June 11 Belmont S. (G1), looming

a threat before ending up a fine third. Brilliant Speed was given another chance

on dirt in the July 30 Jim Dandy S. (G2) last time out at the Spa, but

disappointed in a well-beaten fifth.

"In the Jim Dandy, he flattened out early," Albertrani said. "He came out of

the race with so much energy, he didn't run his race. Today on the turn, he had

a good kick."

Brilliant Speed is the third registered foal, but first runner, from the

unraced Gone West mare Speed Succeeds. Her only subsequent registered offspring

is a juvenile colt named Souper Speedy (Indian Charlie).

Speed Succeeds is a half-sister to Canadian champion older mare Serenading (A.P.

Indy), winner of the 2009 Falls City H. (G2), and Grade 1-placed multiple stakes

victress Handpainted (A.P. Indy), herself the dam of Grade 3-placed stakes

scorer Patena (Seeking the Gold) and Canadian fillies' classic-placed Oil

Painting (Distorted Humor).

Brilliant Speed's second dam, Grade 1-placed multiple stakes heroine Daijin

(Deputy Minister), is a full sister to millionaire Touch Gold, who starred in

the 1997 Belmont S. (G1) and Haskell Invitational (G1). They are also

half-siblings to Canadian Hall of Famer With Approval (Caro [Ire]), who swept

his nation's Triple Crown en route to Canadian Horse of the Year honors in 1989.

Both Touch Gold and With Approval have compiled successful careers at stud.