Brown loaded for Jenny Wiley – again
LEXINGTON, Ky. – A year after a one-two-three finish from his starters in the 2018 Jenny Wiley, Chad Brown has a chance for another training trifecta in Saturday’s renewal of the Grade 1 race at Keeneland.
Although champion Sistercharlie won’t get a chance to defend her title in the race after getting sick and missing training last month, Brown’s bench of talented grass females is so deep that he still trains the three morning-line favorites: 6-5 Rushing Fall, 5-2 Rymska, and 7-2 Onthemoonagain. None of the five other entrants in the Jenny Wiley, a $350,000 race at 1 1/16 miles on grass, were assigned odds lower than 8-1.
The most accomplished of Brown’s trio is Rushing Fall, who has a 6-for-7 record and is the only Grade 1 winner in the race. She has a pair of Grade 1 victories: the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2017 and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last fall at Keeneland.
The Queen Elizabeth victory along with earlier triumphs in the 2017 Jessamine and 2018 Appalachian made her one of 28 horses to have won three stakes at Keeneland. Only Wise Dan, with seven, and Take Charge Lady, with four, have won more.
Rushing Fall, now 4, faced only 3-year-old fillies last year. Unlike stablemates Rymska and Onthemoonagain, she has not raced this year.
Mostly recently, Rymska and Onthemoonagain were first and third in the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs on March 9.
Javier Castallano rides Rushing Fall, as he has done for her entire career, and Irad Ortiz Jr. retains his customary seat aboard Rymska. John Velazquez, who piloted Sistercharlie to victory in this race in 2018, picks up the mount on Onthemoonagain.
The remainder of the field is Phantom Opening, Princess Warrior, Goodyearforroses, Bellavais, and Got Stormy.
Post time for the Jenny Wiley, the 10th race on an 11-race card that includes three other stakes, is set for 6:12 p.m. Eastern.
KEY CONTENDERS
Rushing Fall, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 99-96-91
◗ Possesses the tactical speed to be prominent in a race that is lacking pace. Although she has more often stalked the leaders over her career, she utilized front-running tactics in winning the QEII.
“She’s doing very well,” Brown said. “We freshened her up and brought her back and she’s put together an impressive set of works.”
Rymska, by Le Havre
Last 3 Beyers: 97-89-84
◗ She has won three Grade 3’s and a Grade 2, and the only thing missing from her list of accomplishments is a win or placing at the Grade 1 level.
“I think this is the perfect distance for her,” Brown said.
Bellavais, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 95-93-89
◗ Transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher last year, she won an allowance in October at Belmont before heading to Gulfstream Park for the winter and proving a quality stakes filly there. Sandwiched between a fourth in the Grade 3 My Charmer in December and a third in the Grade 3 Honey Fox in March, she won the Grade 3 Marshua’s River at Gulfstream in January.
Onthemoonagain, by Cape Cross
Last 3 Beyers: 94-102-87
◗ The runner-up in last year’s Grade 1 Flower Bowl, she turned in a promising effort in her seasonal debut in the Hillsborough. She was beaten two lengths after falling nine lengths behind.
“She was out of position, too far back,” Brown said. “She came with a nice run late, had too much to do. So, second time off the layoff, I hope this gives her a little better position this time.”
