Brooklynsway scores upset over I'm a Chatterbox in Doubledogdare

Brooklynsway, a four-year-old filly who's run exclusively in stakes throughout her 15-race career, pulled off a 25-1 upset of Friday's $100,000 Doubledogdare (G3) at Keeneland, fending off Grade 1 winner I'm a Chatterbox and Grade 2 heroine Ahh Chocolate.

Ridden by Robby Albarado, who had struggled to reach the winner's circle throughout the opening weeks of the Spring Meet, the daughter of Giant Gizmo provided the rider with his second winner of the day. A tracking second to White Clover through splits of :23.80, :47.61 and 1:11.55, Brooklynsway bid for the lead three-sixteenths from home, opened up a two-length lead in the short stretch and held on to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

Completing 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:42.86, Brooklynsway paid $52.40 for owner Naveen Chowhan and trainer Bernie Flint.

I'm a Chatterbox, one of the nation's leading three-year-old fillies last season and making her first start since October as the 1-2 favorite, broke a little tardily, was covered up most of the way, and made a bid between rivals in the stretch but was second best while out-gaming Ahh Chocolate by three parts of a length. Over a track where you generally had to be close, near the rail or both, those favorites did well enough and can take a step forward next time.

Purchased by Chowhan for $180,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November sale last fall, Brooklynsway made her debut for the present connections in the $50,000 Esplanade at Fair Grounds March 18. Off slow and wide on both turns, the filly finished fourth.

For her prior owners and trainer John Ross, Brooklynsway captured the 2014 editions of the Princess Elizabeth and Muskoka and the 2015 runnings of the Bison City and OLG Algoma, all at Woodbine. Bred in Ontario by HJT Racing Stable, she also placed in four other stakes during her tenure at Woodbine. Brooklynsway moves forward with a record of 15-5-2-2, $599,641.

(Coady Photography)