Always a Runner up in time in G3 Gazelle

 

Douglas Scharbauer and Three Chimneys Farm’s Always a Runner got up in the final jumps under Dylan Davis to overtake pacesetter Pashmina and win Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Gazelle, a nine-furlong route for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

 

In victory, the Chad Brown-trained daughter of Gun Runner secured the maximum allotment of 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Oaks points on offer to the top-five finishers.

 

Brown was full of praise for the perfect trip engineered by Davis, who returned just last month from a serious accident here in November that saw the veteran rider sustain fractured ribs, a collapsed left lung, a broken right collarbone, and a hairline fracture in his right arm.

 

“I have to mention Dylan - he had a very serious injury, and we were able to secure him for this horse,” Brown said. “We had a plan to follow the favorite [Paradise] all the way to the lane, and just pick your path inside or out, and he executed it exactly how we drew it up. Very happy for him that he’s back in good form.”

 

Pashmina broke alertly from post 6 and established early command, marking off splits of 23.84 seconds and 48.51 over the fast main track with Victory Hall to her outside and 6-5 mutuel favorite Paradise saving ground in third position.

 

Pashmina led the field into the final turn as Paradise continued to chase inside and Always a Runner, who was settled in sixth-of-8, advanced up the rail with an eye-catching move to second position through three-quarters in 1:13 flat.

 

Always a Runner angled off the rail for the stretch run and took dead aim at Pashmina, who spurted clear and improved her advantage, but Always a Runner stayed on willingly and responded to Davis’ encouragement to get up in the final strides under a strong hand ride to secure the 1 1/4-length win in a final time of 1:50.97.

 

Davis said he tried to follow instructions to the letter.

 

“I wanted to break well, to break well enough that she wouldn't have a lot to do,” Davis said. “Saved ground both turns, got out in the top of the lane. I wanted to get outside because she hasn't run that much. I think the grandstand made her lose focus turning for home. She had a lot under her, I tried to get the last bit out and she ran great. I think she has a lot of room to improve.”

 

Pashmina [50 points] completed the exacta by 8 3/4-lengths over Paradise [25 points] followed by Nycon [15 points] and Two Bits [10 points]. Slow Kara, Baffle and Victory Hall rounded out the order of finish. Hot Gossip was scratched. 

 

Always a Runner graduated at first asking on February 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, powering clear to a well-backed 6 1/2-length victory in a one-mile and 40 yard maiden route. The winning effort earned a 59 Beyer Speed Figure.

 

Brown compared the lightly-raced Always a Runner to his undefeated Grade 1 Kentucky Derby hopeful Emerging Market, who also graduated at Tampa Bay Downs before taking the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in just his second start.

 

“It’s ironic- I have a male and a female version, she’s like a female spitting image of Emerging Market. Both horses had pneumonia and almost had the same exact thing, both of them had to leave my care and go in a hyperbaric chamber,” Brown said. “This filly’s pneumonia was more serious than the other, and that’s why they didn’t start in the fall. They were both dead-ready to run, right here in New York and to debut the right way in the fall as two of our best prospects in their divisions. They both missed it, which I was just sick over, because I really felt I had an Oaks and a Derby horse in both horses. 

 

“Both of them end up over at Tampa in two-turn races because I’m playing catch-up a bit,” Brown continued. “I wanted to give both horses a chance to get to their respective races without compromising their futures, so it’s a little bit of a fine line. She was able to win her maiden around two turns as well, and didn’t she come out of there with a minor little temperature again.”

 

Brown said it was only a pair of strong works at Payson Park that earned Always a Runner a shot in the Gazelle.

 

“I called both owners and said, ‘look, I’m going to take a shot in this race because she just breezed too, too good.’ Last-minute decision to put her on the van and send her up here the other day,” Brown said.

 

Trainer Rob Atras said he was proud of the effort from the Ramon Vazquez-piloted Pashmina, who now has 63 total Oaks points following a third and fourth in the Untapable [3 points] and Silverbulletday [4 points], respectively, at Fair Grounds ahead of a troubled third in the Sunland Park Oaks [6 points] where she was impeded by the victorious Bottle of Rouge.

 

“She got to run her race, and I wish we would have won, but I’m very proud of her performance,” Atras said. “I didn’t really anticipate her being on the front, but Ramon was smart and nobody was really wanting to go. She ran a really good race, professional, and I think she got beat by a nice horse.”

 

Atras said Pashmina would be under consideration for the Oaks, and Brown indicated that Always a Runner is also possible for the first Friday in May.

 

“She’s only had two starts, and it’s a fair question. I don’t think I could answer it like I would know for sure. I think it could go both ways. Big risk, big reward,” Brown said. “I don’t want to be careless with these horses, but she’s really talented. She’s not that big, but she’s handy and a very athletic sort. The Oaks, you don’t have the 20-horse field [like the Derby]. Is there that much risk? I don’t know, I’d have to look at the field and look it over and talk to the owners. My gut would tell me it’s not that risky.”

 

Always a Runner, a $1.05 million yearling purchase, is out of the Grade 2-placed Malibu Moon mare Always Carina, a half-sister to 2019 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf-winner Structor. Both Always Carina and Structor were trained by Brown.

 

Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm, Always a Runner banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 2-2-0-0. She returned $11.38 for a $2 win bet.

 

Live racing resumes Thursday at Aqueduct with a seven-race card. First post is 1:10 p.m. Eastern. 

 

America's Day at the Racespresents live coverage and analysis of every day of the Aqueduct Racetrack spring meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.



NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the spring meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.