Chad Brown wins Kentucky Oaks with Always a Runner at Churchill Downs
TL;DR
Chad Brown's horse Always a Runner won the Kentucky Oaks 152 at Churchill Downs. The 3-year-old's victory confirms Brown's confidence in her despite her limited racing experience.
Key points
- Chad Brown trained Always a Runner
- Always a Runner won Kentucky Oaks 152
- The race took place at Churchill Downs
- Always a Runner had only two prior starts
- Brown is optimistic about Emerging Market in the Kentucky Derby
Mentioned in this story
Trainer Chad Brown knows what he knows. So when he thought Always a Runner would be his Kentucky Oaks horse, he was right about that.
When he said Always a Runner would be a contender despite just two starts, he was right about that, too.
The 3-year-old backed up all the confidence Brown had in her by winning Kentucky Oaks 152 on Friday at Churchill Downs. Now weāll see if Brown is right about Emerging Market on Saturday in the Kentucky Derby.
"Only two starts coming into this, but she's been a star since Day One," Brown said.
Brown felt the same way about that colt as he did his filly. Both horses caught pneumonia and had some of their starts delayed because of a virus that ripped through his barn. Despite both being lightly raced, he believed both would be contenders this weekend.
Always a Runner proved him right. If Emerging Market does too, it will mark the second time in three years that the same trainer won both the Oaks and the Derby.
Trainer Kenny McPeek accomplished the feat in 2024 with Thorpedo Anna in the Oaks and Mystik Dan in the Derby.
Bottle of Rogue, My Miss Mo, Bella Ballerina and Nycon, which got in as an also-eligible, all scratched from the race during the week. That still left a fast field, despite being down to just 13 of 14 possible entrants, in what was a historic night.
One less horse did not make it any less competitive.
Neither the lights, the late start, the crowded field of 13 fillies, nor the crowd of 100,000-plus in the stands seemed to affect how they attacked the 1 1/8-mile course.
It was the first time in the 152 years of the race that the Oaks was run under the Churchill Downs lights and broadcast in prime time with an 8:40 p.m. post. NBC might be doing it as a litmus test for the Kentucky Derby to make the same move in the future.
This column will be updated.
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Chad Brown wins 2026 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill with Always a Runner
Q&A
Who trained Always a Runner in the Kentucky Oaks 152?
Always a Runner was trained by Chad Brown.
What was Always a Runner's racing experience before winning the Kentucky Oaks?
Always a Runner had only two starts before winning the Kentucky Oaks.
What is the significance of the Kentucky Oaks win for Chad Brown?
The win reinforces Chad Brown's reputation as a successful trainer and sets up anticipation for his next contender in the Kentucky Derby.