The Galloping Hat Rack

Brilliant Speed (FL)

Basics:

(Dynaformer x Speed Succeeds, by Gone West)

• Trainer: Thomas Albertrani (Bernardini, King Congie, Zo Impressive)
• Jockey: Javier Castellano
• Owned by: Live Oak Plantation
• Career Record: 20: 3-3-7
• Earnings: $1,203,531

Vital Stats:

• 2012 Record: 6: 0-0-3
• TrueNicks rating: N/A
• Highest Equibase Speed Figure of 2012: 113
• Lost last prep [3rd, Bowling Green Handicap (II) on grass, by 7 ¼ lengths]
• 3rd in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (I)
• Brilliant Speed aims to replicate last year’s result where a horse with no G1 wins for the year wins the Classic
• Aims to be the first horse to win the Classic with no other wins for the year
• Aims to be the first Florida-bred since Skip Away to win the Classic

Summary: A favorite of mine since his longshot days winning the G1 Blue Grass Stakes, the son of Dynaformer was memorable on last year’s Triple Crown trail, placing well across all surfaces though it was determined that the grass be his career playground. He ran an excellent 3rd in last year in the Turf race, and now on the eve of his retirement, will make one last run at the big Classic.

Prep Schedule: Brilliant Speed did not make a good pursuit in his first start of the year in the G3 Appleton at a mile, finishing 5th. He got some time off and returned in May to be a decent 3rd in the 9-furlong Woodford Reserve (I), then a month later ran at Belmont in the 10-furlong Manhattan (I) where he went 3-wide and finished 2 lengths from the win in 5th. In July he shipped off again to Monmouth for the 1 3/8-mile United Nations, finishing a bored 6th. Following a bumpy start, he was a well-beaten 3rd in the 1 ½-mile Sword Dancer (I) at Belmont and then was 3rd again upon a class step-down in the 10-furlong Bowling Green (II).

Running Style: Closer

Pros: Albertrani’s going to add blinkers, which may or not be an actual pro but it has changed some horses. B.S. has had some promising works on the dirt and has that Dynaformer aptitude for excelling at 10 furlongs no problem.

Cons: He’s done no better than 3rd this year on his ideal surface (grass), even when he took a slight step down last time out in the G2 Bowling Green. He can handle dirt okay, but it’s more a question of how good he’ll be against top company.

Final Word: Brilliant Speed’s chances are okay, but by all means he is still a very big longshot. Pedigree will carry him home all right, but I’ll need to see proof that this horse is coming back alive before I endorse him. I saw him earlier in the year at Belmont and he didn’t have that special champion’s glow to him…