In Italian Dominates Just a Game Stakes

Owner Peter Brant still has a sweet spot in his heart for his champion mare Sistercharlie .

"People ask me who was my best horse and I'd have to say Sistercharlie," Brant said.

As much as Brant's 2018 Eclipse Award-winning champion turf female and winner of six straight grade 1 stakes may be in the lead, it can be safely said that his latest turf star is quickly climbing that ladder of success.

In Italian  notched her second straight grade 1 win and fourth in five starts for Brant and trainer Chad Brown as the 5-year-old daughter of Dubawi  rolled to a front-running 3 3/4-length victory over grade 1 winner Spendarella  in the $485,000 Just a Game Stakes (G1T), a race named after another of Brant's premier turf mares.

"We've been fortunate to have some good ones," Brant said.

The June 9 victory at Belmont Park was the seventh in 11 career starts for In Italian and came on the heels of a three-length score in the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) to open her 2023 campaign. It extended her recent roll that includes a second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) and wins in the First Lady Stakes (G1T) and Diana Stakes (G1T).

It also avenges a third-place finish in last year's Just a Game to retired stablemate Regal Glory  and reflects how In Italian has soared into the stratosphere among the best turf females.

"This mare is spectacular," Brant said.

Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds in Great Britain, In Italian and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. made great use of the rail and the mare's early speed in the mile turf test. 

After breaking on top, Ortiz moved off the rail, creating a dilemma for her four rivals. Should they run outside her and be carried wide or try to run inside of her? Neither was an enticing or successful option.

"The plan was that if she could break well to get out in front and off the rail," Brown said. "I think Irad executed that well."

Brown noted how the victory was a nice reward for Ortiz, who was aboard In Italian in last year's Just a Game.

"She got caught in a pace duel with that horse from California (Leggs Galore ) and it did her in," Brown said. "Irad said, 'If I didn't get a duel with that horse, I win.' I think Irad really deserved the win today because he sort of did the dirty work in the same race last year."

In Italian led by a length after an easy half-mile in :47.95 on firm turf and was able to spurt away to a 2 1/2-length lead in mid-stretch and widen her advantage from there. The huge 1-5 favorite ($2.40) was timed in 1:34 while giving Brown his sixth Just a Game win in seven years.

Gainesway Stable's Spendarella, runner-up in last year's Coronation Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, was second throughout. The daughter of Karakontie   trained by Graham Motion held the place spot by a length over Team Valor International and Gary Barber's Wakanaka , a Power  mare.

In Italian is the fifth of seven foals by the Redoute's Choice mare Florentina  and her lone stakes winner. The $1.9 million earner was bought by agent Mike Ryan for Brant's White Birch Farm for $609,434 from the Hazelwood Bloodstock consignment at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. 

Brown said he will target back-to-back wins for In Italian in the July 15 Diana at Saratoga Race Course.