June 6, 2008
On the Friday before the Belmont Stakes, 2 stakes races were contested before a crowd of just 6,182. Kicking off the stakes action on Belmont weekend was the $200,000 Brooklyn Handicap (G2) at 1 1/2 miles for older horses. Excelsior runner-up Nite Light was the 8-5 favorite over Fit to Flight winner Delosvientos at 2-1 and Westchester third place finisher Sightseeing at 3-1.
Delosvientos was allowed an uncontested lead of as many as 2 lengths while setting slow fractions of 24.22, 48.11, 1:12.74, 1:37.65, and 2:03.91 over the fast main track. Nite Light and Angliana sat back second and third down the backstretch. Entering the stretch, 10-year-old Evening Attire, who had raced at the back of the field early, came out 5 wide to pass tiring horses. However, Delosvientos, aided by the slow pace, opened up a 5 length lead in mid-stretch. Evening Attire continued to close the gap but was no match for Delosvientos, who cruised under the line 2 lengths in front, completing the 12 furlong trip in 2:30.96. It was another 5 1/4 lengths back to Angliana third. Favorite Nite Light was 4 wide the whole way and tired late to finish fifth beaten 11 1/2 lengths.
Results chart
