Coglianese /NYRA Photo Photo

Rushing Fall earns millionaire status in G2 Lake Placid win

by Brian Bohl

e Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Rushing Fall stayed near pacesetter Go Noni Go before moving at the top of the stretch and going on to a 2 3/4-length victory in the 35th running of the Grade 2, $300,000 Lake Placid for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.

Rushing Fall, who started her career 4-for-4 before running second in the Grade 3 Edgewood on May 4 at Churchill, returned to the winner's circle in her Spa debut, completing a course listed as 1 1/8 miles with the rail at 27 feet in a final time of 1:51.86 on the Mellon turf course.

Go Noni Go, ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, was sent to the front, leading the seven-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 25.29 seconds and the half in 50.20 with 6-5 favorite Rushing Fall, under fellow Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, forwardly placed in the second spot just one length behind.

Nearing the far turn Castellano encouraged Rushing Fall, who overtook Go Noni Go from the outside, and gained separation in the stretch to outkick the Irish bred Capla Temptress.

The Chad Brown trainee improved to 2-for-2 in her career on yielding turf courses, matching her effort in the Grade 2 Appalachian on April 8 at Keeneland. The More Than Ready filly has already registered four career graded stakes wins, including the Grade 3 Jessamine and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf to cap her 2-year-old year.

"I like the way she ran on the yielding turf. I think we took advantage of it," said Castellano, who won his second straight Lake Placid and third overall after guiding Proctor's Ledge last year and Backseat Rhythm in 2008. "All the credit goes to Chad Brown. He was patient with the filly. Skipping the [Lake George] paid off today. She's a nice filly and she did excellent."

Rushing Fall paid $4.70 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career bankroll past the million dollar mark, with earnings at $1,008,000.

"She ran great. She obviously handled the soft going well," Brown said "We expected her to. Javier really rode a great race and adapted to the slow pace. He let her lay really close and a mile and an eighth may be a little far for her, but he really waited to push the button on her, and when he did, she really responded. I'm so proud of her."

Brown said Rushing Fall could next run in the Grade 2 Sands Point on September 15 at Belmont Park.

Capla Temptress, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, finished on the board for the first time in four starts this year, 2 ½ lengths in front of Daddy Is a Legend.

"She ran really well. I guess the winner is a very good filly," Mott said. "We had a good trip, he tipped out and she made a good run. Maybe next time we won't run into that one."

Andina Del Sur, Significant Form, Brown's other entry, Go Noni Go and Thewayiam completed the order of finish.