Brass Hat is back in Louisville!

The eight-year-old Brass Hat scored a popular victory (Ed Van Meter/Horsephotos.com) Winless since the 2007 Massachusetts H., Fred Bradley’s homebred BRASS HAT (Prized) proved there’s still some life in those old legs when rallying to a half-length decision in Saturday’s $111,800 Louisville H. (G3) at Churchill Downs. Trained by William “Buff” Bradley, the eight-year-old gelding wore down the favored Spice Route (GB) (King’s Best) in deep stretch to annex the 1 1/2-mile turf affair, turning the tables on his rival after finishing third to Spice Route in the April 24 Elkhorn S. (G2) at Keeneland. Calvin Borel skillfully guided the veteran, who increased his career earnings to $1,872,360 from a 30-9-5-2 line. Last-out allowance winner Thabazimbi (Empire Maker), who was making his second U.S. start, broke running and was hard to hold through opening splits in :24 3/5, :48 4/5, 1:13 3/5 and 1:38 4/5. Julien Leparoux got the pacesetter settled somewhat, but Thabazimbi’s lead was dwindling as he turned for home. Spice Route pounced in midstretch, grabbing a short lead with a sixteenth of a mile to run, but Brass Hat was charging on the outside under Borel. He got up the final yards, stopping the teletimer over the firm turf in 2:28 2/5.

“Walking through the grandstand (after the race), a lot of fans were excited
to see the old horse back and doing well,” his conditioner said.

Sent off the 6-1 third choice, Brass Hat paid $14, $4.80 and $3. The classy
old timer keyed the $30 exacta with the 6-5 Spice Route, who returned $2.60 and
$2.10. Thabazimbi held third and gave back $2.40 as the near 5-2 second choice.
My Happiness (Arg) (Festin [Arg]), the 65-1 longshot, finished another three
parts of a length back in fourth. The trifecta yielded $82.60 and the 7-8-9-1
superfecta was $1,559.80. Silver Mountain (Victory Gallop), Gangbuster
(Langfuhr), Always First (GB) (Barathea [Ire]), Transduction Gold (Formal Gold)
and Why Tonto (Indian Charlie) came next under the wire.

Brass Hat’s biggest career score came in the 2006 Donn H. (G1), and the bay
also owns wins in the 2004 editions of the Indiana Derby (G2) and Ohio Derby
(G2); the 2006 New Orleans H. (G2); and three listed events, including the
aforementioned Mass Cap. He’s placed in four stakes and was disqualified from a
runner-up finish in the 2006 Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) due to a positive drug
test. The Kentucky-bred is out of the unraced mare Brassy (Dixie Brass) and
counts a yearling filly by Sky Mesa as a half-sister.