More Than Ready’s incomparable filly Rushing Fall turned in yet another magnificent performance in Saturday’s $700,000 Just A Game S. (G1) at Belmont Park.
Rushing Fall came out of the gate on top and was allowed to set moderate fractions of :23.91 and :47.21 for the half-mile. Daddy Is a Legend closed within a half-length at the three-quarters mark, but Rushing Fall re-broke in the stretch to win by 2 1/4-lengths in 1:31. 67.
The time was just 0.03 seconds off the stakes record set by Celestine (2016) and about three ticks off Oscar Performance’s course mark of 1:31.23.
“She’s just so versatile; the different distances she can run and her running style,” said trainer Chad Brown. “She doesn’t need the lead but she has enough speed she can really hurt you. A horse like this does not come around very often.
“I want to speak to (owner) Bob Edwards but I feel the logical thing to do is get her back to 1 1/8 miles in the Diana (G1, July 13 at Saratoga).”
Rushing Fall has bankrolled $1,893,000 with a record of 8-1-0 in nine starts for owner e Five Racing Thoroughbreds. She has seven graded stakes wins, including four Grade 1 victories.
Bred by Fred Hertrich III and John D. Fielding, Rushing Fall was produced by the Forestry mare Autumnal, who is also responsible for the multiple Grade 3-placed Milam and multiple stakes-placed Autumn Song.
