Peter Brant's Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), heroine of Keeneland's GI Coolmore Jenny Wiley Apr. 14, added another top-shelf victory to her resume in dramatic fashion in Saturday's GI Diana S. at the Spa.
The bay filly, favored at even money, raced near the back of the field early and took closer order through a half mile in :47.77. She began to roll while about five wide on the far turn and came charging on the outside in the stretch to just reel in Ultra Brat (Uncle Mo) by a nose under a perfectly timed ride by John Velazquez. Last out GI Longines Just a Game S. victress A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), forced to steady sharply in traffic nearing the stretch, bravely re-rallied to finish an unlucky third.
This was the third straight Diana score and fourth overall for leading trainer Chad Brown off the heels of Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in 2016 and fan favorite Lady Eli (Divine Park) last year.
“In mid-stretch, I was worried that she wouldn't get there, especially when she didn't want to get her correct lead in the lane,” Brown said. “When Johnny finally got her there, I could see her surging. It was a matter of being on the right side of that photo. Luckily, she got there.”
Brown continued, “I'm looking forward to getting her out to further distances from here on out. I might bring her back in the [GI] Beverly D. [at Arlington]. I know it's in three weeks, but this filly is strong and there's a lot of constitution about her. She's lightly raced, and if she's sound, I'm going to take her to Chicago.”
Velazquez added, “She switched leads late, but when she final did, she gave me that spurt down the lane to get down there in time. She's a very good filly. She just has to put it together at the start and break better, but she's definitely talented.”
Sistercharlie raced in the colors of Mme Jacques Cygler through the first four starts of her career, including a one-length success in the G3 Prix Penelope last April, then carried Brant's silks to a runner-up effort behind Senga (Blame) in the G1 Prix de Diane over an extended 10 furlongs at Chantilly last June.
Sistercharlie has made a habit of close finishes since coming to the U.S. last July. She closed stoutly to miss by just a neck to New Money Honey (Medaglia d'Oro) in the GI Belmont Oaks while making her stateside debut last summer. She resurfaced to capture a career high in Lexington before missing by just a head when second as the heavy favorite in the June 8 GII New York S. at Belmont last time out.
Saturday, Saratoga
DIANA S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 7-21, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:46.26, fm.
1–SISTERCHARLIE (IRE), 122, f, 4, by Myboycharlie (Ire)
1st Dam: Starlet's Sister (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Premiere Creation (Fr), by Green Tune
3rd Dam: Allwaki, by Miswaki
(€12,000 Ylg '15 AR15). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Ecurie Des
Monceaux (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown; J-John R. Velazquez.
$275,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-3-0, $1,126,403.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A.[bullet ad=”mersant-international”][bullet ad=”itm-g1″]2–Ultra Brat, 118, m, 5, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Prof. McGonagall, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Rootentootenwooten, by Diesis (GB)
3rd Dam: Bold Flora, by Bold Favorite
O-Alex G. Campbell, Jr.; B-Alex G. Campbell, Jr.
Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-H. Graham Motion. $100,000.
3–A Raving Beauty (Ger), 122, m, 5, by Mastercraftsman (Ire)
1st Dam: Anabasis (Ger), by High Chaparral (Ire)
2nd Dam: Allure (Ger), by Konigsstuhl (Ger)
3rd Dam: Adjani (GB), by Surumu (Ger)
(€60,000 RNA Ylg '14 ARAUG; €95,000 RNA Ylg '14 BB14;
€225,000 4yo '17 ARQDE). O-Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables
LLC & Bethlehem Stables LLC; B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Chad
C. Brown. $60,000.[bullet ad=”bswmandore-double”][bullet ad=”mersant-international”]Margins: NO, 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.15, 15.40, 2.50.
Also Ran: Hawksmoor (Ire), Proctor's Ledge, New Money Honey, War Canoe. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
Pedigree Notes:
The winner's dam Starlet's Sister, a full-sister to G3 Prix Cleopatre winner Leo's Starlet (Ire), is also a half-sister to Anabaa's Creation (Ire) (Anabaa), a SW & G1SP in France and runner-up in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. in this country. Starlet's Sister is the dam of the 3-year-old filly My Sister Nat (Fr) (Acclamation {GB}), runner-up in the G3 Prix Chloe, the 2-year-old colt Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and a yearling colt by Charm Spirit (Ire). She had a colt by Fastnet Rock (Aus) this year.
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