Kentucky-bred My Gun’s Loaded fired a big shot in winning the $600,000 Alabama Stakes (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Trained by Chad Brown and owned by Douglas Scharbauer, My Gun’s Loaded is now a perfect 3-for-3 at Saratoga this year.

“My team did an unbelievable job developing this horse,” said Bown. “I felt good in the paddock. She came in and she acted with a lot of confidence. She was calm and collected and I just thought she was the best-looking horse today in the paddock, being fresh and ready.”

Though she brought the least experience and had never competed beyond one mile, the chestnut performed like a seasoned veteran. She circled wide on the far turn and outbattled Measure late to score by a neck. It was another 1 ½ lengths back to Counting Stars in third. My Gun’s Loaded recorded the initial stakes win of her career, getting 1 ¼ miles in 2:04.87.

“I’m so proud of the horse,” Brown said. “I’m so appreciative of Douglas Scharbauer, who gave me this horse to train over the winter, and of course, she is 3-for-3 for us and she’s 3-for-3 at Saratoga. She really likes it here.”

“When she made the front when I passed Counting Stars, she started waiting a little bit for company, but I knew I had it done,” said winning rider Manny Franco, who earned his first Alabama victory. “When she felt [Measure] inside, she gave me a little more, too, so I knew [she] was there.”

My Gun’s Loaded avenges stablemate

Brown tipped his cap to Counting Stars, who landed third in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks in May ahead of local Grade 1 wins over the Brown-trained and Scharbauer co-owned Always a Runner in the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks.

“Counting Stars is a great horse,” Brown said. “I had the benefit of a fresh horse today. I mean take nothing away from the way she [Counting Stars] fought, she’s danced every dance from the Oaks on through, and I needed a fresh horse to beat her, goes to show you how good she is.”

Bred by Corer Thoroughbreds, My Gun’s Loaded was a $650,000 Keeneland September graduate in 2024. She is has now amassed earnings of $460,500 and has an overall record of 4-3-0. Brown mentioned the nine-furlong Grade 2, $250,000 Beldame on Sept. 25 at the new Belmont Park or the nine-furlong Grade 1 Spinster on Oct. 4 at Keeneland as potential target races.