Royal Charlotte took her perfect record to four-for-four and registered her first graded victory as the 3-2 favorite in Friday's GIII Victory Ride S. on Belmont's closing weekend. The gray kept a close eye on the leaders from a ground-saving fourth as Cookie Dough ticked off opening splits of :22.26 and :44.77 with 'TDN Rising Star' Brill (Medaglia d'Oro) in tow. Launching a three-wide bid turning for home, Royal Charlotte powered past the pacesetter in the lane for a decisive score. Cookie Dough was the only one attempting to keep up with the winner in the stretch, finishing well clear of the rest of the field.
“We've always thought she was a nice filly,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “She's always trained well, but she's been a bit of an overachiever. She always runs a little better than she trains, and for a horse like this to start off her career and keep getting better with every start and be so honest and consistent, I'm really lucky to have her. It was a tricky post and Javier [Castellano] showed why he's a Hall of Fame rider. He didn't panic and he just gave her a great trip and she really responded. I'm really proud of both of them.”
As for what's next, Brown said, “You look forward to a race like the [GI Longines] Test for her from here. She's earned it. Every race she's run in she's continued to improve, and she has to be one of the top contenders now.”
Royal Charlotte donned cap and gown by four lengths over a pair of next-out winners in her Gulfstream unveiling Mar. 16. Capturing a muddy Keeneland optional claimer next out Apr. 19, she followed suit with a facile score in Monmouth Park's Hystericalady S. May 27.
Pedigree Notes:
Royal Charlotte is the second graded winner and one of five black-type victors for second-crop sire Cairo Prince. She is the first foal out of Sass and Class, who has since produced a 2-year-old colt by Constitution, who sold to trainer Eddie Kenneally for $135,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale; a yearling colt by Mineshaft; and a 2019 colt by Liam's Map.
Friday, Belmont Park
VICTORY RIDE S.-GIII, $139,500, Belmont, 7-5, 3yo, f, 6 1/2f, 1:15.82, ft.
1–ROYAL CHARLOTTE, 119, f, 3, by Cairo Prince&log=">Cairo Prince
1st Dam: Sass and Class, by Harlan's Holiday
2nd Dam: Extra Classy, by Allen's Prospect
3rd Dam: No Extra Charge, by Greinton (GB)
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($70,000 RNA Ylg '17 KEESEP).
O-First Row Partners; B-Rhineshire Farm LLC (KY); T-Chad C.
Brown; J-Javier Castellano. $82,500. Lifetime Record: 4-4-0-0,
$201,900. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Cookie Dough, 123, f, 3, Brethren–Brooke's Valentine, by
Fusaichi Pegasus. O/B-Arindel (FL); T-Kiaran P. McLaughlin.
$30,000.
3–Peruvian Appeal, 118, f, 3, Successful Appeal–Solarana (Arg),
by Mutakddim. O-Steve Landers; B-Peter Koechlin (KY); T-Brad
H. Cox. $18,000.
Margins: 4, 5HF, 8HF. Odds: 1.50, 6.40, 8.80.
Also Ran: Brill, Sue's Fortune. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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