Klaravich Stables' Search Results remained undefeated in three starts with a facile score in Saturday's Grade 3, $250,000 Gazelle at Aqueduct racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y.
The Flatter filly, who earned 100 Kentucky Oaks qualifying points in victory, entered the nine-furlong test from a half-length score in the Busher Invitational going a one-turn mile. She earned a 92 Beyer for her Gazelle triumph and now tops the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 150 points.
“She looks great this morning,” said Dan Stupp, trainer Chad Brown's New York-based assistant. “She ran well yesterday and she still has room to move forward. She certainly handled the distance well.”
The Brown-trained The Grass Is Blue, a Broken Vow chestnut owned by Louis Lazzinnaro, finished fourth in the Gazelle.
Brown saddled a pair of contenders for Klaravich Stables in the Wood Memorial with Crowded Trade rallying from eighth to finish third, while mutuel favorite Risk Taking bobbled at the start and finished seventh.
Crowded Trade entered the Wood from a nose defeat to Weyburn in the Grade 3 Gotham, while Risk Taking was made the Wood favorite on the back of a convincing score in the Grade 3 Withers.
“He tried and ran well,” said Stupp regarding Crowded Trade. “Everyone is fine this morning. We'll see what Chad wants to do moving forward with them.”
Not to be overshadowed on the Wood Memorial undercard was an impressive North American debut by Peter Brant's Flighty Lady in a 1 1/16-mile turf allowance. The 4-year-old Sir Percy filly finished third in the 2019 Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp and placed in a pair of Group 3 events last year in France.
Flighty Lady was prepared by Brown at Payson Park in Florida and demonstrated a powerful kick under Irad Ortiz, Jr. in the final sixteenth to win by two lengths.
“She shipped in middle of the week and looked fantastic,” said Stupp. “She is a very classy acting filly and well behaved in the paddock. She gave a good impression on race day and then ran to it. It was a very patient ride from Irad and she responded well. She's a very exciting turf prospect for us this year.”
Flighty Lady registered an 86 Beyer in victory.
Klaravich Stables' Highly Motivated, who finished third for Brown in the Grade 3 Gotham, was a game second in Saturday's Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland. The Into Mischief bay battled gamely on the pace en route to a narrow neck defeat to undefeated Essential Quality, the reigning Champion 2-year-old colt. Highly Motivated is in 14th position in the Derby standings with 50 points.
The post Unbeaten Search Results Atop Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard After Gazelle Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
