Brooklyn features Good Reward

GOOD REWARD (Storm Cat), a multiple Grade 1 winner on turf, displayed new

prowess on the main track when recording a runner-up finish in the Pacific

Classic (G1), and the five-year-old horse is the top draw in Saturday's $150,000

Brooklyn Breeders' Cup H. (G2) at Belmont Park. Owned and bred by the Phipps

Stable, the Shug McGaughey charge established himself as a viable candidate for

the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) in his last start, but he'll probably need to win

the 118th running of the Brooklyn to earn a trip to Churchill Downs on November

4. Good Reward will break from the rail with Garrett Gomez, who guided him to a

second behind Lava Man (Slew City Slew) in the Pacific Classic

"He made a big move at the eighth pole," McGaughey said. "In the Pacific

Classic, he was closer at the eighth pole than he was at the wire. We were

looking to run him, and this could be a good spot for him."

Good Reward finished 2 1/2 lengths back of Horse of the Year contender

Lava Man at the wire.

The bay is actually one for one over the dirt at Belmont, breaking his maiden

nearly three years ago on the 1 1/2-mile oval, but he's much more accomplished

over turf. Good Reward made his first start on the main track this year two

races back, recording a

fourth in the Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Breeders' Cup H. (G2) before his strong

showing in the Pacific Classic, and he'll attempt to snap a 15-month losing

skein on Saturday. The 1 1/8-mile Brooklyn has also attracted champion and dual

classic winner FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor), who wheels back off a two-week rest

following an eighth in the Woodward S. (G1) at Saratoga.

"He won the Preakness (G1) coming back in two weeks," conditioner Barclay

Tagg commented. "But that was three years ago. He came out of the Woodward good

and I've had every vet in America check him. I've had another jockey get on him

and breeze him. Everyone gives the thumbs up. I can't find anything wrong with

him, and I know a little bit about it."

The six-year-old gelding owns four wins at Belmont, including the 2004 Jockey

Club Gold Cup (G1), and Funny Cide has shown renewed interest this season

following a disappointing 2005 campaign, winning a restricted stakes at Aqueduct

in April and the Dominion Day S. (Can-G3) at Woodbine two starts back. The $3.4

million earner will pick up new rider Cornelio Velasquez.

Grade 3 winner WANDERIN BOY (Seeking the Gold) could be the controlling speed

in the Brooklyn. The Nick Zito trainee chased the pace in the Whitney H. (G1)

last time before fading to sixth, but he's a serious threat to get clear in the

early stages on Saturday. Whitney fourth WE CAN SEEK (Chi) (Seeker's Reward) is

also in the seven-horse field, and REVERBERATE (Thunder Gulch) has shown an

affinity for Belmont, winning twice and recording a good second in last year's

Peter Pan S. (G2).

The complete field, from the rail with riders and imposts, is Good Reward,

115; Funny Cide, 115; AWESOME TWIST (Awesome Again), Edgar Prado, 114; TAKE THE

BLUFF (Pine Bluff), John Velazquez, 112; Reverberate, Jose Santos, 112; We Can

Seek, Eibar Coa, 114; and Wanderin Boy, Javier Castellano, 117.

One race earlier, a group of nine fillies and mares will settle the $100,000

Floral Park H. (G3). SWAP FLIPAROO (Exchange Rate) will face elders off an

impressive two-length triumph in the Test S. (G1) at Saratoga, but the Allen

Jerkens-trained sophomore owns previous experience, recording a fast-closing

second, beaten only a half-length by Grade 1 winner Behaving Badly (Pioneering),

in the Genuine Risk Breeders' Cup H. (G2) two starts ago. Coa will retain the

mount on the late-running lass.

"I was very impressed with how professional she was in the Test," Coa said.

"She was all business."

Honorable Miss H. (G2) queen STORMY KISS (Arg) (Bernstein), who hails from

the Tagg stable, is the 118-pound highweight. She exits a third behind Dubai

Escapade (Awesome Again) in the Ballerina Breeders' Cup S. (G1). Grade 2 winner

FOR ALL WE KNOW (Stephen Got Even), unraced since February, will return in the

Floral Park.

"There was nothing wrong with her physically, she just wasn't the picture of

health she was as a three-year-old," explained John Ward about For All We Know's

lengthy absence. "She's obviously been out a little while, but it looks like a

good spot to get going again."

Grade 2-placed GRECIAN LOVER (Friendly Lover) will lead the post parade under

a 115-pound weight assignment that includes Mike Smith. Next comes PRETTY

IMPOSING (Defrere), Channing Hill, 114; GREAT INTENTIONS (Cat Thief), Prado,

115; For All We Know, Kent Desormeaux, 116; EVER ELUSIVE (Forestry), Velazquez,

114; WIN MCCOOL (Giant's Causeway), Gomez, 112; Stormy Kiss, Castellano; Swap

Fliparoo, 116; and INDIAN FLARE (Cherokee Run), Fernando Jara, 114.