BROOKLYN HANDICAP RECAP; Friday, June 4, 2010

Brooklyn Recap: Friday, June 4, 2010

 

ALCOMO PREVAILS IN BROOKLYN HANDICAP PHOTO FINISH

 

By Jon Forbes

 

ELMONT, N.Y. – Alcomo used every bit of Belmont Park's 1,097-foot stretch to nip a resilient Gabriel's Hill in a thrilling 122^nd edition of the Grade 2, $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap on Friday.

 

Bred in Brazil, Alcomo picked up a lucrative victory in last year's Greenwood Cup at Philadelphia Park, but was well beaten in three starts in Dubai over Meydan's synthetic surface this past winter. With a return to conventional dirt in the 1½-mile Brooklyn, the 7-year-old was able to return to top form.

 

Alcomo was reserved toward the rear up the lengthy backstretch run, then made a steady three-wide move on the far turn. He drew alongside pacesetter Gabriel's Hill and defending race champion Eldaafer nearing the quarter-pole and gradually wore down those opponents to narrowly defeat Gabriel's Hill by a nose. Eldaafer finished two lengths behind the winner in third.

 

"I broke well and stayed in a good position," said winning jockey Cornelio Velasquez. "I was in the clear at the quarter pole, and I had a lot of horse.  I thought I had the race easy, but the two [Gabriel's Hill], he ran a good race.  I knew I was in front at the wire."

 

Alcomo, a 9-1 outsider in the field of eight, returned $21.40 for a $2 win wager and completed the 1½ miles in 2:30.07.

 

"We know the horse hates synthetics, but the owners live over there [in Dubai]," said Caue Caramori, assistant to his father Eduardo Caramori. "Luckily, he came back even better than he left. This is a nice horse – a real pleasure to train. The Breeders' Cup is at Churchill Downs this year, and that's our main goal."

 

The Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park on July 3 is under consideration for Alcomo, who is owned by Abdul Rahman Al Jasmi.

 

Alcomo was bred by Haras Campestre in Brazil, where he was a Group 2 winner earlier in his career. With today's victory, the son of Rainbow Corner improved his record to 9-3-2 and earned $90,000 to boost his career earnings to $342,402

 

Stones River, Tranquil Manner, Tiger's Rock, Gangbuster, and American Dance completed the order of finish.

 

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