Final Breeders' Cup spot to Rushing Fall with Jessamine Stakes win

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge came to an end Wednesday with Rushing Fall awarded the final “Win and You’re In” qualifying spot — and deservedly so — by way of a victory in Keeneland’s Grade 3, $150,000 JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes.

Twelfth of 14 up the back stretch and forced along the outside, the filly rallied late under jockey Javier Castellano, earning her 4-5 favoritism in a large field. The final margin was 3 1/4 lengths.

“The way she did it today, very amazing," Castellano said. "Big field, very competitive horses. The way she did it with the soft ground, come from way back, had to go around a couple of horses – I went a little wide – all those situations. She really came through.”

Trained by Chad Brown and campaigned by e Five Racing Thoroughbreds, the daughter of More Than Ready followed up strongly from her debut, a 1 1/4-length win Sept. 16 at Belmont Park.

Now it could be on to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf set for Nov. 3 at Del Mar. Rushing Fall will have her travel expenses and entry supplemented by the Breeders' Cup should she make the trip.

Brown wasn't on hand at Keeneland. But, asked if he felt the filly was ready for a try at the Breeders' Cup, Castellano said, "Absolutely."

Added Brown via text message: “Extremely impressive, but I’m not surprised. She identified herself as special the first time we breezed her on the turf for us. We are lucky to have her.”

Given the effort Wednesday, Rushing Fall could wind up one of the favorites in a field that should include another talented Brown trainee, Significant Form, who took Belmont's Grade I Miss Grillo last time out.

Behind the winner Wednesday, Stainless got up over Cash Out in a photo for second.

Rushing Fall returned $3.80 after covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.20.

By Jonathan Lintner