Looking for his third straight and fourth overall victory in the GI Diana S. Saturday at Saratoga, Chad Brown will send out three strong contenders in the opening-weekend staple.
Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) was given the narrow nod on the morning line at 9-5. The most lightly-raced horse in the field, she has only been out of the exacta once and is two necks from being unbeaten in America. A narrow second in last summer's GI Belmont Oaks Invitational, the bay scored an impressive victory in the GI Jenny Wiley S. Apr. 14 at Keeneland before just getting nipped in the GII New York S. last out June 8 at Belmont.
A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Group 1-placed in Italy last fall, impressively annexed the GIII Beaugay S. in her North American debut May 12 and backed that up with a breakthrough score in the GI Just A Game S. June 9.
New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) completes the Brown triad, but will have to step forward significantly to compete with her two barnmates.
The likeliest upsetters to the Brown train appear to be Proctor's Ledge (Ghostzapper) and Ultra Brat (Uncle Mo). The former, victress of the GII Distaff Turf Mile S. May 5 at Churchill, came up just short of A Raving Beauty when second in the Just A Game, while the latter dominated the soggy-turf GIII Galorette S. by 10 1/4 lengths last out May 20 at Pimlico.
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