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Search Results leads Chad Brown-trained exacta in G2 Ruffian

by Keith McCalmont

Klaravich Stables’ Search Results stalked and pounced to a three-length score in Sunday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Ruffian, a one-turn mile for older fillies and mares, at Belmont Park.

Search Results, a 4-year-old Flatter dark bay, won 4-of-6 sophomore starts, including graded scores in the Grade 3 Gazelle last April at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Grade 1 Acorn in June over Big Sandy. Those winning efforts enveloped a close runner-up effort to Malathaat in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs.

The talented filly entered the Ruffian from a distant third-place finish in her seasonal debut in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Distaff Handicap on April 9 at the Big A, but returned to winning form with a sharp performance under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

“Last time, she came from a layoff going too short maybe. But today was great,” Ortiz, Jr. said. “I saw it was time to go [at the top of the stretch] and I asked her and she responded very well. As soon as I asked her, she took the lead and she did her thing. She’s a really nice filly.”

Lady Rocket, who captured the Grade 3 Go for Wand Handicap in December at Aqueduct, led the six-horse field through splits of 22.67 seconds and 45.33 over the muddy and sealed main track as Search Results kept close watch from second position in front of Make Mischief.

Royal Flag, who brushed the gate at the break, settled at the back of the pack under Joel Rosario and advanced into contention as Search Results made a menacing move outside of Lady Rocket late in the turn.

Search Results was in front at the stretch call and widened her margin with ease to cross the wire in a final time of 1:34.88 as Royal Flag made her six-wide bid, closing down the center of the track and overtaking Lady Rocket in the final sixteenth to complete the exacta by 1 1/2-lengths. Rounding out the order of finish was Bank Sting, Make Mischief and Zaajel.

Ortiz, Jr. said Search Results demonstrated signs of improvement.

“She felt good. She’s growing and has more maturity. She sat good and perfectly relaxed and waited for me,” Ortiz, Jr. said.

W.S. Farish homebred Royal Flag enjoyed a memorable 2021, winning 2-of-5 starts, including nine-furlong scores in the Grade 3 Shuvee in July at Saratoga Race Course and the Grade 2 Beldame Invitational in October at Belmont. She completed her campaign with a rallying fifth, defeated 1 1/4-lengths in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.

Rosario said Royal Flag, who finished a close third in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign in August at the Spa, performed admirably in her seasonal debut.

“She looked like she was getting better at the end and the other horse ran an incredible race,” Rosario said. “She tried to catch up to her, but it was the first time she ran since she ran in the Breeders’ Cup.”

The victory topped a successful weekend at Belmont for Brown, who won a pair of Grade 2 stakes Saturday, taking the Sheepshead Bay with Virginia Joy and running one-two in the Fort Marcy with L’Imperator and Sacred Life, respectively.

Bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall, Search Results banked $110,000 in victory while improving her record to 8-5-1-2. She returned $9.80 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes Thursday at Belmont Park with a nine-race card. First post is 3:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the spring/summer meet at Belmont Park on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/belmont/racing/tv-schedule.