Sistercharlie Heads Brown Arsenal in F&M Turf

It took Peter M. Brant nine tries to win a Breeders' Cup race in the 1980s.

Now, about a year into his return from a roughly 20-year hiatus from the sport, he just might do it in his first try since his comeback.

In Sistercharlie, Brant owns the leading North American-based hopeful for the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). She enters the 1 3/8-mile race off an impressive trio of grade 1 wins for trainer Chad Brown in her 4-year-old campaign.

"A victory at the Breeders' Cup would be a great way to top off a great year for Peter," Brown said about the Nov. 3 test at Churchill Downs. "He's rebuilding rapidly to not only national prominence but international prominence. Most of all, she's a deserving filly. She's clearly the division leader."

A world-class polo player, Brant left racing in 1996 so he could devote more time to playing for his White Birch Farm team. He retired from active participation in polo after suffering an injury in 2016 and soon began to rebuild his racing stable. Brant's comeback began with four starters and a win in partnerships in 2016, and he won only three races last year as he assembled a strong group of runners with Brown.

The keen eye for equine talent that made Brant one of the sport's most prominent owners in the 1970s and 1980s has come to the fore this year. Through Oct. 27, Brant has won five grade 1 stakes as well as three grade 2s and a grade 3 while racing under his own name and three partnerships. Overall, he has 21 wins from just 66 starts.

"I love being involved in the sport again. It's a great game," said the 71-year-old Brant, who won the 1988 Sprint (G1) with Gulch. "Winning a grade 1 stakes now is a bigger thrill than it was years ago."

Sistercharlie, the 3-1 morning-line favorite, has surely been the star of the group, winning the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T), Diana Stakes (G1T), and Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) in four 2018 starts. She has not raced since capturing the Beverly D. Aug. 11, but Brown is delighted with the way the Irish-bred daughter of Myboycharlie has trained for the Filly & Mare Turf, which will be the longest start of her career.

"Sistercharlie is doing great," said Brown, who is seeking a fourth win in the Filly & Mare Turf since 2012. "The layoff may be a blessing in disguise. She's won the three grade 1s this year, so she's plenty fit and plenty experienced, and now she's fresh. She's ready to go."

Brown's armada includes the second- and third-place finishers behind Sistercharlie in the Beverly D., Fourstar Crook and Thais, who is owned by Brant and his cousin, Joseph Allen of Allen Stable. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer also is sending out dual grade 1 winner A Raving Beauty and Santa Monica.

Entries: Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 03, 2018, Race 6

• Grade IT
• 1 3/8m
• Turf
• $2,000,000
• 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:04 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Fourstar Crook (NY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	124	Chad C. Brown	5/1
2	2Thais (FR)	Manuel Franco	124	Chad C. Brown	20/1
3	3Wild Illusion (GB)	William T. Buick	120	Charles Appleby	7/2
4	4Paved (KY)	Joel Rosario	120	Michael W. McCarthy	20/1
5	5Princess Yaiza (IRE)	Andrea Atzeni	120	Gavin Cromwell	30/1
6	6Sistercharlie (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	124	Chad C. Brown	3/1
7	7Smart Choice (ARG)	Flavien Prat	124	Todd A. Pletcher	30/1
8	8Fuhriously Kissed (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	124	Anthony T. Quartarolo	30/1
9	9A Raving Beauty (GER)	Javier Castellano	124	Chad C. Brown	10/1
10	10Magic Wand (IRE)	Ryan L. Moore	120	Aidan P. O'Brien	5/1
11	11Mom's On Strike (FL)	Adam Beschizza	124	Joe Sharp	20/1
12	12Santa Monica (GB)	Jose L. Ortiz	124	Chad C. Brown	15/1
13	13Athena (IRE)	Wayne Lordan	120	Aidan P. O'Brien	15/1
14	14Eziyra (IRE)	Lanfranco Dettori	124	Dermot K. Weld	15/1