Schoolyardsuperman has come a long way since his Sept. 13 debut in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Aqueduct, when he clipped heels and fell while trying to squeeze through an opening along the rail. Fortunately, he was none the worse for wear and returned to action on Oct. 26, finishing second over the same track, distance, and class level.

For his third start, Schoolyardsuperman stretched out for a one-mile maiden special weight, and the longer distance made a big difference. He vied for command through splits of :23.48 and :47.15, seized a two-length lead through six furlongs in 1:12.06, and then blazed his final two furlongs in :11.99 and :12.63 to draw clear and dominate by 5 3/4 lengths in the snappy time of 1:36.68.

Schoolyardsuperman is a son of Brown’s 2017 Kentucky Derby fifth-place finisher, Practical Joke. Practical Joke was best as a sprinter/miler, winning the Champagne (G1), Hopeful (G1), and H. Allen Jerkens (G1), and it’s possible Schoolyardsuperman will develop in a similar manner.

But then again, Schoolyardsuperman’s dam is by two-time 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow, and Schoolyardsuperman’s fast finish while stretching out over one mile suggests even longer distances may be within reach.