Always a Runner Wins 152nd Kentucky Oaks in Prime Time First
Chad Brown claims first Oaks victory as filly goes 3-for-3 after recovering from pneumonia as 2-year-old
Quick Look
- Always a Runner won the 152nd Kentucky Oaks on Friday night at Churchill Downs, the first time the race for 3-year-old fillies has been run under the lights in prime time.
- Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Jose Ortiz, the filly made a late move around the final turn to win by a head, improving to 3-for-3 after recovering from pneumonia as a 2-year-old.
- Meaning placed second, with Counting Stars third.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Kentucky Oaks is the premier race for 3-year-old fillies in the United States, traditionally run before 6 p.m. This year's edition marked the first time the race was run under lights in prime time, a historic first for the event.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Always a Runner won the 152nd edition of the Kentucky Oaks on Friday night, the first time the race for top 3-year-old fillies has been run under the lights in prime time at Churchill Downs. It's the first victory in the race for top 3-year-old fillies for trainer Chad Brown. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Always a Runner made a move around the final turn and needed every bit of the stretch to pass Bob Baffert's Explora and Michael McCarthy's Meaning before the finish line of the 1⅛-mile race. Meaning was second, and Counting Stars third. Always a Runner has become a star after contracting pneumonia as a 2-year-old and undergoing treatment for it. She's now 3-for-3 in her only races. "What an unbelievable talent," Brown said. "This filly is very resilient, very tough." Brown will try to pull off the Oaks-Kentucky Derby double Saturday with Emerging Market. He has also never won the Derby. The first night Kentucky Oaks was one for the history books, but also took place in front of large swaths of empty seats. Many of the fans who filled the grandstand and the track from the late morning through the afternoon had departed before sunset. The Oaks has typically been run before 6 p.m.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Chad Brown will attempt to win the Kentucky Derby with Emerging Market on Saturday
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- How many fans attended the Oaks?
- What caused the empty seats - scheduling, weather, or other factors?
- Will Emerging Market win the Derby for Chad Brown?
