Oh Susanna Soars, Legal Eagle falters in South Africa

Oh Susanna bested familiar foe Lady in Black, but Legal Eagle fell short of a record-tying win in grade 1 action Jan. 5 at Kenilworth with Breeders' Cup starting spots on the line.

Oh Susanna, a 5-year-old Street Cry mare from the Touch Gold mare Sharp Susan, saw off Lady in Black for the second straight year in the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1). The issue, however, was a bit tighter this year—a half length as opposed to 1 1/2 lengths in the 2018 edition.

With Richard Fourie up for trainer Justin Snaith, Oh Susanna wasted no time opening a substantial lead, then was under an all-out drive through the final 200 meters. Cascapedia, a High Chaparral mare trained by Mike de Kock, was third.

Lady in Black, a Dynasty mare, has faced Oh Susanna four times and gotten the better of her only once—by three-quarters of a length in the Pinnacle Stakes Nov. 15 going 1,600 meters (about one mile), the short end of Oh Susanna's best distances. The Paddock is run at 1,800 meters (about nine furlongs).

Saturday's victory earned Oh Susanna a starting spot in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) as the first race in the international Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series.

Legal Eagle, an 8-year-old Greys Inn gelding, went to the post seeking a record-tying fourth straight win in the L'Ormarin's Queen's Plate (G1). Instead, the 2016 and 2017 South African Horse of the Year settled for fourth place as Do It Again rallied boldly through the final 100 meters to edge longshot Soqrat for the win.

Rainbow Bridge was third in the Plate. Legal Eagle, steered to the middle of the course for his stretch run, couldn't find the needed extra gear and barely edged Undercover Agent for fourth.

Do It Again, a 5-year-old Twice Over gelding who won the 2018 Vodacom Durban July (G1) at Greyville, avenged a third-place finish behind Legal Eagle in their last start, the Green Point Stakes (G2). His victory provided Fourie and Snaith a grade 1 double.

Do It Again earned a spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) through the Challenge program.