Rushing Fall to skip Ballston Spa

Rushing Fall, a Grade 1 winner in three consecutive years, will not run in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga.

Trainer Chad Brown was not happy with Rushing Fall’s most recent workout, a half-mile in 52.49 seconds over the Oklahoma training track last Saturday, and has decided to “take a step back on her and run some tests on her.”

Brown said Rushing Fall is totally sound, but that he wants to investigate further if she just had a “bad day, a bad week,” or if there is something else going on. "I have to be thorough," Brown added.

Rushing Fall, a 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready owned by Bob Edwards’ e Five Racing Thoroughbreds has eight wins and two seconds from 10 career starts. She has won seven graded stakes, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at 2, the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at 3, and the Jenny Wiley and Just a Game at 4. Most recently, she finished second to stablemate Sistercharlie in the Grade 1 Diana here on July 13.

Brown will definitely run Mascha, a recent allowance winner, in the Ballston Spa. He and owner Peter Brant are also considering scratching Fifty Five from Friday’s Yaddo Stakes to run in the Ballston Spa. Brown could also run Significant Form, owned by Brant’s wife, Stephanie Seymour Brant, in the Ballston Spa.

Others expected for the Ballston Spa include Candy Story, Conquest Hardcandy, Indian Blessing, Secret Message. Scottish Jig is possible as are Mrs. Sippy and Starship Jubilee, both of whom would have to be supplemented to the race for a fee of $6,000.

Entries for the Ballston Spa will be taken on Wednesday.