In Italian, Regal Glory Run 1-2 for Brant in First Lady
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt/Mathea Kelley
In Italian holds off Regal Glory to win the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland
In Italian 's near gate-to-wire win in the $683,837 First Lady Stakes Presented by UK Heathcare (G1T) gave her connections a lot to celebrate Oct. 8 at Keeneland.
First, Peter Brant's 4-year-old daughter of Dubawi captured her second consecutive grade 1 stakes, having entered the First Lady off a 1 1/2-length win in the Diana Stakes (G1T) July 16 at Saratoga Race Course.
Second, the win gave trainer Chad Brown his fifth consecutive victory in this race and his sixth since 2014.
And finally, In Italian held the top spot in a First Lady exacta for Brant and Brown, who also ran favorite Regal Glory , a 6-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom .
In Italian shows the way off the turn for home
In Italian quickly took command of the race as the field passed the Keeneland stands for the first time in the one-mile test. She set an easy, uncontested lead under Joel Rosario with opening fractions of :23.37, :47, and 1:10.45. Regal Glory under Jose Ortiz gained on the leader through the final turn, swung into the middle of the track at the top of the stretch, and were in a solid striking position. Regal Glory ran valiantly to close the gap but fell a length short of In Italian at the wire. The final time was 1:33.22.
"She got her speed going and relaxed going into the first turn. I was just there as a passenger," said Rosario.
The winner returned $7.74 to win.
The Mike Stidham-trained Princess Grace rallied to grab third, preventing Brown from having the trifecta in the six-horse field. Brown's third entrant, Klaravich Stables' Technical Analysis , ran fourth.
Brown said he was a bit concerned about In Italian not having raced since the Diana.
"Mr. Brant and I got together, and I wanted to run her in between, but he wanted a fresh horse for the Breeders' Cup, and that decision proved right," said Brown. "She overcame the layoff today and got a good prep she needed going forward."
Peter Brant (right) leads In Italian with Joel Rosario to the winner's circle
Regarding his fifth consecutive First Lady win, Brown said: "What it means is I've had a lot of good horses sent to me by good owners and great people I'm working with. That's what it comes down to."
Ortiz said Regal Glory ran a great race but just got beat by a better horse on the day.
"'Regal is a little bit older, but the other filly is tough. I feel like I had a great trip and I had every opportunity to beat her and I didn't. I'm just very proud of 'Regal's effort today," he said.
Stidham said he is not considering the Breeders' Cup Championships for her next start.
"Probably not because there is not a good race for fillies going a mile," he said. "We would have to run against the boys. We're probably not going to do that; we will probably freshen her and have her ready for the Matriarch Stakes (G1) at the end of the year."
Brant bought In Italian as a yearling at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, where agent Mike Ryan picked her out and signed the ticket for Brant's White Birth Farm for the equivalent of US$609,434. The filly was bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds out of the Redoute's Choice group stakes winner Florentina . In Italian is a half sister to group 2-placed winner Villa Carlotta (Street Cry). Florentina has a 2-year-old by Kingman named Fiorenza (AUS) who has not started. The mare has not had a foal since 2020.
In Italian's connections enjoy the trophy presentation for the First Lady Stakes