Randomized Dominates the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) with a Strong Victory at Saratoga
Owner Seth Klarman and trainer Chad Brown are good friends, they’ve won many big races together, and are among the nation’s best at what they do.
When Klarman asked Brown to consider the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) for his 3-year-old filly Randomized, the trainer had second thoughts. The bay daughter of Nyquist ran a dismal sixth in the 1 1/16th-mile Acorn (G1) on June 9, then won gate-to-wire in a lower-echelon stakes, the 1-mile Wilton, on July 14.
“Seth wanted to run more than we did,’’ Brown said after Randomized wired a strong field and easily won the 1 ¼-mile Alabama by four lengths on Saturday at Saratoga. “He kept looking at the numbers, and said, ‘please consider it.’ He was right.”
Sent off at 7-1, Randomized ($16.20) broke perfectly from gate 8 under Joel Rosario, clearing the field and moving right to the rail. The filly moved three wide along the backstretch, followed by Defining Purpose, with favorite Wet Paint racing fourth under Flavien Prat.
Around the far turn, Randomized was briefly challenged by Defining Purpose, with Wet Paint trying to make up ground along the rail. No way. Randomized moved clear in the stretch and pulled away for the victory.
Wet Paint, trained by Brad Cox, came into the Alabama off a narrow victory in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) four weeks ago.
Winning time was 2:03.07.
Randomized Shines in Spectacular Victory: Secures First Grade 1 Win and Praises Owner’s Role
Randomized captured her first Grade 1 in her fifth career start and upped her record to 5-3-0-1 and earnings of $495,850.
“I wasn’t real confident (about 1 ¼ miles). I was confident that she would run a real good race,’’ Brown added. “I’ve got to give owner Seth Klarman a lot of credit here. He kept looking at the race and looking at how fast the horse was and said, ‘you should really consider this race.’ I was really just going to rest her for the Cotillion (at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 23). As it got closer and I reported she was breezing well, I said, ‘let’s at least enter and look at the pace scenario.’ We talked about it the other day and he said, ‘if you’re willing to do it, I have a good feeling about this.’
“He’s a guy that’s such a good partner of our stable and such an important guy in our industry — not only through all the commerce he does, but all the philanthropy.”
Defining Purpose, at 14-1, finished third, followed by 61-1 shot Sabra Tuff, Taxed, Gambling Girl, Sacred Wish, Fireline, Julia Shining, and Chocolate Gelato. Texas was disqualified from fifth to sixth for interference with Gambling Girl at the start.
“We thought maybe another horse would show speed, but the plan was maybe to go, and if that horse showed speed lay second, but I got the lead and could do it from there,’’ Rosario said. “She was moving so well, nice and easy all around, she’s just a nice filly, but a mile and a quarter is a long way, so you have to have something always for the end. It looked like she did it really easy.”
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher had three fillies in the race – Gambling Girl, Julia Shining , and Chocolate Gelato.
Brown also saddled the winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Lake Placid, Aspray ($8.70).
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
