Terra Merita, a 2-year-old daughter of Bricks and Mortar, illustrated some of the grass ability of her sire in winning a 1,600-meter (about a mile) turf maiden race in Japan at Hanshin Racecourse June 3. According to online reports, she became the first winner for the stallion, whose first foals are juveniles of this year.
The juvenile filly, out of the Victoire Pisa mare Terra Nova, controlled the pace before drawing away for a comfortable victory under Christophe Lemaire. Naosuke Sugai trains the filly for Shadai Race Horse Company.
North America's Horse of the Year and champion turf male of 2019, Bricks and Mortar was sent to Japan in December of that year after an undefeated season capped by a victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) under regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr. at Santa Anita Park. That year, Bricks and Mortar won all six of his starts for trainer Chad Brown and owners Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence.
During the summer of 2019, Teruya Yoshida's Shadai Farm purchased the breeding rights to the son of the late Giant's Causeway.
A @BreedersCup champion? β
— World Horse Racing (@WHR) June 3, 2023
American Horse of the Year? β
And now, a successful stallion! β
Proud papa BRICKS AND MORTAR had his first winner with his first runner in Japan today! π―π΅#γγͺγγ―γΉγ’γ³γγ’γ«γΏγ« #竢馬 pic.twitter.com/4Yo3gLLodE
His unbeaten season that year began with the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Gulfstream Park. Thereafter came wins in the Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T), Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes (G1T), Manhattan Stakes (G1T), and Arlington Million XXXVII Stakes (G1T) in advance of the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Bricks and Mortar retired after his 5-year-old season with a career 11-for-13 record and earnings of more than $7 million.
