Brooklynsway Upsets 1-2 Favorite I’m a Chatterbox to Win Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare

LEXINGTON, KY (April 22, 2016) – Naveed Chowhan’s Brooklynsway held off a late bid from odds-on favorite I’m a Chatterbox to win the 22^nd running of the Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) for fillies and mares by 1¼ lengths before a Friday afternoon crowd of 13,902.

Trained by Bernie Flint and ridden by Robby Albarado, Brooklynsway covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.86.

It marked the second win in the race for Albarado, who piloted Dancethruthedawn to victory in the 2002 running. It was the fourth Keeneland stakes victory for Flint and first since 2004 for Flint and Chowhan when they teamed to win the Alcibiades (G2) with Runway Model.

White Clover led the field of eight through fractions of :23.80, :47.61 and 1:11.55 with Brooklynsway in closest pursuit. Going into the far turn, Albarado sent Brooklynsway after the leader with Ahh Chocolate ranging up three wide and I’m a Chatterbox moving closer along the rail.

Brooklynsway repelled the initial bid of Ahh Chocolate and spurted clear, building enough of a cushion to hold off I’m a Chatterbox.

Brooklynsway is a 4-year-old Ontario-bred daughter of Giant Gizmo out of the Radio Star mare Explosive Story. The victory was worth $60,000 for Brooklynsway, who was making only her second start on dirt. She boosted her earnings to $599,641 with a record of 15-5-2-2.

Brooklynsway returned a race-record mutuel of $52.40 to win. She paid $14 to place and $5.20 to show. I’m a Chatterbox, ridden by Florent Geroux, returned $2.60 and $2.10 with Ahh Chocolate finishing three-quarters of a length back in third under Brian Hernandez Jr. and paying $2.60 to show.

White Clover finished another 6½ lengths back in fourth and was followed in order by Innovative Idea, Pretty Fancy, Sea Shadow and Back in Dixie.

Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. Highlighting the card is the 31^st running of the $250,000 Dixiana Elkhorn (G2) for marathoners going 1½ miles on the turf. The Dixiana Elkhorn will be the afternoon’s ninth race with a 5:30 p.m. post time.

Quotes from the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3)

Bernie Flint (winning trainer of Brooklynsway)

On whether he was expecting such an effort“Yes I was. We had a good series of works with her (since owner Naveed Chowhan purchased her last November). The more I worked with her, it seemed like the better she got. Sometimes you get them at the right time, and I got her at the right time. I gave her some time off, I freshened her up.”

On Brooklynsway’s next race“I think we have a heck of a horse. We’ll have some fun with her at Churchill Downs.”

Robby Albarado (winning rider)

“Bernie gave me one instruction, and it was very instrumental. (He said) ‘you gotta get away running.’ Circumstances dictated that – being in the one hole – that I get her away running into the first turn. I’d ridden her before (in the Esplanade aStakes at Fair Grounds on March 18), and she got tired. I thought she might have needed the race. Bernie did an exceptional job of getting her here today, and she ran extremely well.”

Florent Geroux (rider of runner-up and beaten favorite I’m a Chatterbox)

“(I’m a Chatterbox) walked out of the gate. Wish we could have been a little more forwardly placed, but sometimes she breaks a step slow like she did today. From there I was right behind the winner. I tried to go by (the winner) and she just kind of stayed (in her position). She probably needed a race. She was ready but a race is still a race.”

Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of third-place finisher Ahh Chocolate)

“We had a great trip. We left from the six hole, and going around the first turn we were able to save a little ground. Then on the backside we bounced out, and we let her get in a nice long rhythm. Turning for home, I had the big favorite (I’m a Chatterbox) to the inside of me so we just waited there. I thought I would be able to run down the horse that ended up winning (Brooklynsway) but she just sprinted away from us and I couldn’t get to her.”

Keeneland