Undefeated Bleecker Street Tops Brown's Four in Diana

A year after Charlie Appleby ended Chad Brown's streak of five straight wins in the Diana Stakes (G1T), two of the world's best trainers will go head-to-head once again in the July 16 turf stakes for fillies and mares at Saratoga Race Course.

Only this time, Brown has the numbers very much on his side.

In 2021, both the European-based Appleby and Brown sent out two starters in the 1 1/8-mile Diana, and it was Appleby who dominated the race by sending out 1-2 finishers Althiqa  and Summer Romance .

In Saturday's renewal of the $500,000 stakes, Appleby will be outnumbered 4-1 as Brown will be represented by 66.6% of the six fillies and mares in the field.

"It's been a race we've focused on for many years now since I opened my own stable. Once again, we have horses that belong in the race," said Brown, who will be chasing his seventh Diana victory.

The standout among Brown's foursome is Peter Brant's undefeated Bleecker Street , who is a perfect 7-for-7 after rallying from last in a field of seven to win the June 10 New York Stakes (G1T) at 1 1/4 miles in her last start.

"She's developed beyond anyone's expectations, even mine. Every time I've asked her to do something, she's stepped up and done it. Every single one of her races has been a new challenge for her, and no matter the competition, distance or type of turf she's on at various racetracks, she keeps meeting the challenges," Brown said about a daughter of Quality Road   who was bred by Branch Equine and purchased for $400,000 at The Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's New York Sale of Selected Yearlings.

While Bleecker Street will be making her first start at the Spa, barnmate Technical Analysis  can be considered a horse for the course with a 2-for-2 record at the Spa after winning the Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) and Lake George Stakes (G3T) last year at the Spa as a 3-year-old for Klaravich Stables.

The daughter of Kingman  won the May 21 Gallorette Stakes (G3T) at Pimlico Race Course in her last start.

Brant's Rougir  was the 3-5 favorite in the New York but lacked a strong late kick and finished fifth after winning the Beaugay Stakes (G3) for Brown in her 2022 debut. A group 1 winner in France last year, the daughter of Territories  has won 5 of 16 starts.

Brant also owns In Italian , who was third in the Longines Just A Game Stakes (G1T). The speedy Dubawi  4-year-old will be making her first start beyond 1 1/16 miles and figures to be joined by Technical Analysis on the front end in the early stages. Technical Analysis will break from the rail, while In Italian has the outside post in the small field.

"I have to give both horses the opportunity to run. In Italian seems to be a faster horse than Technical Analysis," Brown said. "We'll see how it shakes out when they break."

Appleby's hopeful, Godolphin's homebred Creative Flair , is returning to the United States after finishing fourth in the Jockey Club Oaks Invitational Stakes and third in the Saratoga Oaks Invitational Stakes (G3T) a year ago.

The 4-year-old daughter of Dubawi (IRE) won the Balanchine Presented by Longines Evidenza  at Meydan in her lone 2022 start.

Hopefully of breaking up the Brown vs. Appleby tug of war is Bal Mar Equine's Dalika , a Pastorius  6-year-old who was second in the Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3T) for trainer Al Stall Jr. 

The grade 3 winner has prevailed in 7 of her 26 starts, but is winless in three starts on turf at Saratoga.

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