Rushing Fall would join rare air with another Grade 1 victory

After a winning return for Bob Edwards' e Five Thoroughbred Racing in Wednesday's Beaugay (G3) at Belmont Park, Rushing Fall will target a Grade 1 stakes next.

Trained by Chad Brown, the 5-year-old daughter of multiple champion-producing stallion More Than Ready is possible to protect her title in either the Just a Game (G1) on June 27 over the Belmont turf or the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland.

While both races are in play for her next start, Edwards is slightly in favor of the Jenny Wiley, citing the extra two weeks of training. 

"We'll look at both races, but I'd say we're leaning towards that," Edwards said. "I like the extra [two weeks] and she's a horse that does better with time. It's a tough decision to make. You got two races that she's won over two tracks that she really likes."

Rushing Fall, who was made the post time favorite in 11 of her 12 career starts, is a three-time winner over both the Belmont and Keeneland turf courses. Her lone off-the-board effort took place in the First Lady (G1) on October 5 at Keeneland, where she was fourth beaten 5 ¼ lengths to stablemate and subsequent Champion Turf Female Uni. 

Rushing Fall's sensational career includes four Grade 1 victories which have taken place in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar, the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup and Jenny Wiley at Keeneland and the Just a Game at Belmont Park. 

"She's a super athlete and just amazing to be around," Edwards said.

Edwards praised Hall of fame jockey Javier Castellano, aboard Rushing Fall for all of her starts, for keeping her energy level just right during Wednesday's race. 

"Javier did a really good job with her," Edwards said. "She just coasted past the wire and he did a really good job of keeping her energy level low."

A victory at either two potential spots would make Rushing Fall a Grade 1 winner at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5. According to Equibase, which has tracked Grade 1 races in the U.S.A. and Canada since 1976, the only North American-based females to accomplish this feat are champions Beholder and Lady Eli, the latter of whom occupied the same shed row as Rushing Fall at one point. 

"Some pretty elite company. I'd love for her to be in the same conversation as those," Edwards said.

Bred in Kentucky by Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding, Rushing Fall is out of the Forestry broodmare Autumnal and was purchased for $320,000 from the Fasig-Tipon Saratoga Select Yearling Sale in 2016.