Pocket Square gives Chad Brown a milestone win at Belmont

Pocket Square's win in the Gr.3 Athenia Stakes at Belmont on Saturday gave Chad Brown his 100th graded stakes win at the track.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 26th September 2021:

Pocket Square became the second US stakes winner and first graded winner in the country for her sire, Night of Thunder, with a facile score in Saturday's Gr.3 Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park.

Content to race last but one into the clubhouse turn, Pocket Square dropped the bit and switched off beautifully for Irad Ortiz, Jr. while racing without cover as long shot Stand For the Flag lobbed them along through easy sectional times over the rain-affected inner turf. Quietly ridden through the middle stages, the heavy favorite began to creep into it three deep approaching the stretch and came with a telling turn of foot to put the race easily to bed, giving trainer Chad Brown his 100th graded victory at Belmont Park.

"She did everything right," the winning jockey commented.

"She broke and relaxed. She waited on me to call on her to run and when I asked her, she took off. She looked like much the best. I only used the stick a couple of times and that was it. She was moving comfortably, so I didn't need to do much."