Guarana Victorious in 4-year-old Debut at Churchill

Guarana, one of the country's top 3-year-old fillies in 2019, looks poised for a rewarding season at 4 after a geared-down 5 1/4-length allowance optional claiming victory June 4 at Churchill Downs.

Facing seven outclassed rivals in a third-level $74,691 race going seven furlongs, the daughter of Ghostzapper  settled just off early pacesetter Sunny Dale, who set splits of :22.67 and :45.21 on a sloppy (sealed) track. Guarana surged to the lead in early stretch under Tyler Gaffalione, opened a commanding lead, and coasted home with limited urging over the final sixteenth of a mile.

"That's about as easy as a horse can win. She's a super classy filly and incredibly talented," Gaffalione said.

Please Flatter Me rallied for second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Sunny Dale in third.

Guarana ($2.40) finished in 1:22.58 with a final eighth of a mile in :13.17 that likely would have been faster had she been asked for more.

There was no need. More important one-turn races are ahead for the talented filly trained by Chad Brown.

"She is an incredible filly and did everything so easily today," Brown assistant Whit Beckman said. "There are bigger things down the road for her, but it is great to see her get back to the races—especially the way she was able to win as she did today."

#6 Guarana is back with a bang for @TheRealChadCBr1 in Race 8 at @ChurchillDowns pic.twitter.com/y75VrLzMYG

— TwinSpires (@TwinSpires) June 4, 2020

Last year, Guarana excelled around one turn, winning her debut on a sloppy track at Keeneland by 14 3/4 lengths and setting a stakes record in the Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park by completing a one-turn mile in 1:33.58.

A couple of two-turn routes followed, resulting in a win in the 1 1/8-mile Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and a second in the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing, though she didn't run as quickly as she did in the Acorn.

Thursday's start was her first since the Sept. 21 Cotillion, when she was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Street Band after stalking a fast pace. She missed an opportunity to race in the seven-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park due to a physical setback.

This year, the Filly and Mare Sprint is Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The Lexington track also hosts a COVID-19-rescheduled Madison Stakes (G1) at seven furlongs July 11.

Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Three Chimneys Farm's Guarana has won four of five starts and $928,268. She was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys and is one of three winners from her dam, including stakes winner Magic Dance (by More Than Ready ), who won the Debutante Stakes at Churchill last year at 2 and was third in the Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Saratoga.