By Christie DeBernardis
Champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) makes her highly anticipated seasonal bow Saturday in Saratoga's prestigious GI Diana S., which was the start of a three-race win streak for her last term that culminated in an Eclipse award. Kicking off last term with a win the GI Jenny Wiley S. at Keeneland, the bay came up a head short to stablemate Fourstar Crook (Freud) in the GII New York S. last June before taking the Diana by a nose. Following suit with a win in Arlington's GI Beverly D. S. in August, she refused to be denied yet again in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf Nov. 3.
Sistercharlie is one of four strong contenders for trainer Chad Brown, who has won the last three renewals of this test, and four overall, with Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) (2011), Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) (2016), Lady Eli (Divine Park) (2017) and Sistercharlie (2018). Her biggest competition comes from her own shedrow in the form of once-defeated MGISW Rushing Fall (More Than Ready), who earned a Breeders' Cup victory of her own in 2017 as a juvenile. The 'TDN Rising Star' is two-for-two this term thus far with victories in the Apr. 13 Jenny Wiley and June 8 GI Just A Game S. at Belmont last time.
Brown saddles another filly who is two-for-two this season in Homerique (Exchange Rate), who, like Sistercharlie, carries Peter Brant's colors. A Group 3 winner in France, the gray captured Belmont's GIII Beaugay S. May 11 and GII New York S. June 7. Brown and Brant will also be represented by longshot Thais (Fr) (Rio de La Plata), who was last seen finishing fourth in Aqueduct's Plenty of Grace S. Apr. 14.
Rounding out the field is the Bill Mott-trained Mitchell Road (English Channel), victress of the GIII Galorette S. last time at Pimlico May 18 and Graham Motion pupil Secret Message (Hat Trick {Jpn}), heroine of Woodbine's GII Nassau S. May 26.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
