Sistercharlie Chases Back-to-Back Breeders' Cup Wins

In a year already filled with some memorable efforts, Peter Brant's Sistercharlie has one more remarkable achievement ahead of her.

In the 20 runnings of the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), no one has been able to win the lucrative turf stakes in back-to-back years. Only Ouija Board has won it twice (2004 and 2006), but she was second in 2005.

Yet Sistercharlie stands a 1 1/4-mile trip around Santa Anita Park Nov. 2 away from completing the historic double, cementing a second consecutive title as the female turf champion, and adding to a nearly unprecedented streak of grade 1 wins under the care of trainer Chad Brown and his team.

That's a glittering array of prizes awaiting the 5-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie, though she's anything but your typical mare.

"It would be another great achievement by her if she can win the Breeders' Cup," Brown said.

It would also be an impressive feat for Brown, who has already won the race a record four times. Despite numerous setbacks that sidelined Sistercharlie since Brant shipped her from Europe to Brown's barn in 2017, she has been a gem of consistency, continually producing her "A" game, even after eight- and nine-month layoffs.

Sistercharlie returned from an eight-month absence to defeat the formidable Rushing Fall in the July 13 Diana Stakes (G1T) and tacked on wins in the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) and Flower Bowl Stakes (G1T). Her past six starts—all wins—have been in grade 1 company, and the only North American horse in the graded stakes era to top that mark is Zenyatta, who posted nine straight starts and wins in grade 1 stakes.

She's approaching the World Championships in top form once again.

"She's doing very well, and I hope she has the luck necessary to win, meaning a good trip," Brown said. "We've had a lot of success in California, especially in Breeders' Cup races. I've found the grass course at Santa Anita to play very fair. We've won some close ones and lost some close ones, but I've never thought the track beat us."

It will not be a stroll in the park for Sistercharlie. The field includes group 1 winners Billesdon Brook and Villa Marina; Mirth, who took the Rodeo Drive Stakes (G1T) at Santa Anita; and Mrs. Sippy, who was three-quarters of a length behind Sistercharlie in the Oct. 6 Flower Bowl.

Also on hand will be Vasilika, who has won 11 of 12 turf starts at Santa Anita and will be trained by Dan Ward, taking over for Jerry Hollendorfer, who is banned at the Arcadia, Calif., track; and Sistercharlie's personal pacesetter, Brant's Thais, who led by 12 lengths in the Flower Bowl before finishing third.