Consistent Sistercharlie Earns Turf Female Eclipse

With four grade 1 wins to her credit in 2018 alone, Peter Brant's Sistercharlie is not accustomed to losing.

Less than two years since she arrived in North America from France, the now 5-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie can count among her accolades the Eclipse Award for champion turf female of 2018. She would take a close Eclipse Award vote over Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) winner Enable (GB).

Bred in Ireland by Ecurie des Monceaux, Sistercharlie, out of the Galileo mare Starlet's Sister, began her career in France at 2 and worked her way into group company at 3. 

Sistercharlie took the Prix Penelope (G3) for trainer Henri-Alex Pantall in April of 2017 and followed that effort with a runner-up finish next out in the group 1 Prix de Diane Longines (French Oaks). 

Purchased by Brant shortly before the French Oaks, the race was the mare's last start in France. Shipped to the United States and placed with trainer Chad Brown, Sistercharlie made it crystal clear from the start that a change in continents would pose little obstacle to her winning ways. Sistercharlie just missed by a neck to New Money Honey in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) in July of 2017 to close her sophomore campaign. 

Laid low by a bout of pneumonia that threatened to derail her racing career, Sistercharlie recovered sufficiently to return to the track at 4. The professional mare went on to win four of her five starts for 2018—all at different courses. 

Sistercharlie opened the year with a win in the April 14 Coolmore Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, then was edged by a head for second in the June 8 New York Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T) at Belmont Park. She rebounded to take the July 21 Diana Stakes (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course and the Aug. 11 Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) at Arlington International Racecourse in rapid succession. 

Bumped at the start of the Nov. 3 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs, Sistercharlie recovered quickly and stalked the pace. Racing seven wide in the lane, she stormed home with a late rally to edge Wild Illusion at the wire and win by a neck. The race earned Sistercharlie a career-high Equibase Speed Figure of 116.  

The most fiscally successful runner to emerge from the Brown barn in 2018, Sistercharlie ended the year with $2,054,200 in earnings. She has never finished worse than fourth in her 11-start career.