Search Results earns probable Kentucky Oaks berth with Gazelle triumph

Search Results kept her record unblemished while likely earning herself a starting berth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks with a popular 2 3/4-length victory over the 18-1 Maracuja in Saturday’s $250,000 Gazelle at Aqueduct.

The win earned Search Results 100 of the 170 qualifying points on the line for the Oaks, while also giving jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. his fifth win on the card.

Search Results opened her career with victories in a six-furlong maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3 and the one-mile Busher Invitational at Aqueduct two months later. And while she still had to answer the question of whether she was able to stay nine furlongs around two turns, the bettors had the utmost confidence she would, backing the 3-year-old daughter of Flatter down to a 2-5 favorite against just five rivals, three of whom were racing on dirt for the first time.

Surprisingly, it was Alwayz Late who set the early pace while stalked by Search Results from the outset. Search Results stuck her head in front while still well in hand midway on the second turn, drew clear readily when roused in early stretch and was never seriously menaced while on her left lead the entire length of the stretch.

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Maracuja was still at the rear of the field entering the far turn, advanced wide around the bend and was easily best of the others while never threatening the winner. She earned 40 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points for her effort, which also came in her first start around two turns. Army Wife outlasted the others to finish third. Mia Martina was eased to the wire.

Chad Brown trains Search Results for Klaravich Racing Stables. Her final time of 1:54.14 was .24 seconds faster than Modernist completed the same distance in winning the Grade 3 Excelsior just 30 minutes earlier. Search Results paid $2.80 and received a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I thought she was very professional today,” Brown said. “She maybe lost focus when she surged to the front and there was no one around her in deep stretch. When she had a horse in front of her, I loved the way she was moving into the bit. I was relieved to see that she could handle the mile and an eighth. We were cautiously optimistic, but you always have to see them do it first to be sure.”

As for sending Search Results to the Oaks at Churchill Downs on April 30, Brown said, “if she comes out of it in good shape, that would be the next step and it's something we’ve been working toward. Although she got the season started late, she seems to be catching up fast on this crop. She seems like one of the contenders, at least, so we’re thankful for that.”