My Gun's Loaded shoots down Counting Stars in Alabama

Saratoga’s reputation as the “Graveyard of Favorites” was alive and well on Saturday when Counting Stars, bet below 2-5, was outrun in the $600,000 Alabama (G1) by stakes newcomer My Gun’s Loaded and Measure, the latter her stablemate in the barn of trainer Mark Casse.

A comfortable winner of the Acorn (G1) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at the Spa earlier this summer, Counting Stars had, in winning both races, toppled the Chad Brown-trained Always a Runner, who had beaten Counting Stars in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Brown kept Always a Runner out of the Alabama in favor of next month’s Cotillion (G1) but still had the right horse to beat the heavy favorite.

Sharing a similar paternal heritage (sire Gun Runner) with Always a Runner, My Gun’s Loaded entered the 1 1/4-mile Alabama with two wins in three starts, though none above allowance level nor beyond a mile. What she brought to the table, though, was significant upside, none that the other four fillies opposing Counting Stars could match. My Gun’s Loaded was sent off as the 3-1 second choice.

“When [Always a Runner] works with this one, My Gun’s Loaded, you could always tell galloping out who just has a little more, and it’s this one,” Brown said.

Counting Stars seized the lead, passing the stands, and was kept a bit wide entering the first turn. With Jose Ortiz up, Counting Stars attempted to lull her rivals to sleep, posting fractions of :24.55, :49.44, and 1:14.06. My Gun’s Loaded, meanwhile, was no more than a couple lengths off Counting Stars in third.

My Gun’s Loaded was sent after Counting Stars on the far turn, reeled in the favorite in upper stretch, and withstood a belated rail bid from 10-1 third choice Measure to win the Alabama by a neck under Manny Franco.

“Going from a mile to a mile and a quarter is a big ask, but the thing that gave me some confidence was we won the Alabama a few years ago with a horse named Randomized that did the same thing, so it has been done,” Brown said. “Races like the Beldame (G2) or the Spinster (G1) versus older horses might be in play [for her].”

Owned by Doug Scharbauer, who co-owns Always a Runner, My Guns Loaded covered the fast-track test in 2:04.87. Measure finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Counting Stars, while A.P.’s Girl, Ati Girl, and Nycon completed the field of six.

My Gun’s Loaded, a Kentucky-bred and $650,000 Keeneland September purchase, was produced by the stakes-placed Strive, by Congrats.

The three-year-old filly championship, which Counting Stars might have virtually cemented if she had won the Alabama, remains up for grabs. My Gun’s Loaded is now a late-arriving contender for the title.