Sistercharlie Turns Back Rushing Fall in Diana

Peter Brant's Sistercharlie made a triumphant return July 13 at Saratoga Race Course, turning back stablemate Rushing Fall to defend her title in the $500,000 Diana Stakes (G1T).

In her first start since winning the Nov. 3 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), the 5-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie rated midpack early in a field of six and then closed with a tremendous kick to get the win. Hall of Famer John Velazquez was in the irons on the Chad Brown trainee, who was named champion turf female in 2018 on the merits of four grade 1 scores.

"Another great performance from a great mare; she showed why she's the best," said Brown, who trained the top three finishers in the race and won his fifth edition of the Diana, four of them earned in the past four seasons. "Peter made the decision to come back and race her another year. He's a great sportsman, and he loves seeing this horse run. We were going to start her campaign a little earlier in the year, and she got sick on us. We had to wait, and he was very patient. She just hit all her works right leading up to this race."

"She's the most consistent horse I've ever had," said Brant, who also won the Diana with Just a Game in 1980 and Waya in 1978. "Any time she has lost, she's had a major excuse. She's a very special horse. You only get one like that in a lifetime, and I'm fortunate enough to be associated with her."

Sistercharlie tracked the pace just off the inside in fourth Saturday while longshot Thais, also a Brown trainee, set a quick tempo through opening fractions of :22.10, :45.90, and 1:11.51. As Rushing Fall advanced from third to take the lead, the eventual winner tipped six wide and rallied to take command through a 1:36.01 mile, then edged away to a 1 3/4-length win. 

The final time for the 1 1/8-mile test was 1:47.93 on turf rated good. Rushing Fall, favored at odds of 8-5, held for second under regular rider Javier Castellano, and Homerique, also trained by Brown for Brant, was a neck behind in third. The order of finish was completed by Secret Message, Mitchell Road, and Thais. Sistercharlie returned $5.80 on a $2 win ticket as the 9-5 second choice.

"We had a nice pace setup from (Thais), and Johnny knows this mare so well. He also did a great job," Brown said. "I loved where she was throughout the trip. I was worried she was going to be too far back coming off the layoff. She's done that in some of her races where she was very far back. I was very comfortable where all my horses were on the backside. It set up as I expected with these three horses coming down the lane, particularly Sistercharlie more than likely running at Rushing Fall at the wire. It's unfortunate that any of the three had to lose. They all ran great races in their own right that would win many Dianas."

Velazquez has been the only jockey aboard Sistercharlie since she was imported to the U.S. They have five grade 1 wins and two seconds from seven stateside starts together.

"She normally breaks slow," he said. "I made sure to get her a nice position passing the wire for the first time, making sure that the other horse didn't put me in behind her. Javier's horse was the one to beat in my eyes, and once I was behind him and relaxed where I thought was in a good position, I bided my time a little bit. By the three-eighths pole, it was time to go, and I know she takes a bit to get going, so I'd rather go wide and get her going than to stay behind the other horses and not get there. It was a great effort by her.

"Chad told me that she was ready, and you have to give it to Chad. He did a great job with her. He passed the race at Belmont and said, 'Don't worry, I'll get her ready for the Diana.' It worked out perfect. She came back very well, and they did a great job with her. She was there for me."

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds' Rushing Fall, a grade 1 winner at ages 2, 3 and 4, was stretching out to the Diana's distance for the first time since winning the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Lane's End (G1T) in October at Keeneland.

"She ran a good race as well," Brown said. "A mile and an eighth may be stretching it for her, and she went all the way to the wire with Sistercharlie. It's unfortunate one of them had to lose, but that's the way I do it. I want the horses to run against each other. I don't want any speculation on who might have won, I just like to let them settle it on the track. They are two great horses, and I'm sure you'll see more grade 1 wins from Rushing Fall as well.

"Each of the horses individually deserved this chance today to run, so we gave it to them," added Brown, whose previous Diana winners are Lady Eli (2017), Dacita (2016), and Zagora (2011). "This is a special race for me, and it was a special race for my mentor, Bobby Frankel. It's a race he pointed toward every year, and I'd like to think he's very proud today that we ran so well. I do everything he taught me. I mark this race on my calendar every year on the first of the year."

According to Brown, the $600,000 Beverly D. Stakes (G1T) at Arlington International Racecourse Aug. 10 will be the next start for Sistercharlie, who won that race in 2018 after taking the Diana en route to Breeders' Cup honors. 

"I'm going to talk to Bob Edwards about possibly running Rushing Fall there as well, but I can see her possibly coming back in the Ballston Spa (G2T, Aug. 24) as well," Brown said. "I'd say Homerique would be Beverly D.-bound as well."

Bred in Ireland by Ecurie Des Monceaux out of the Galileo mare Starlet's Sister, Sistercharlie was purchased by Brant shortly before she finished second in the 2017 Prix de Diane Longines (G1) at Chantilly in June 2017. Her record now stands at eight wins and three seconds from 12 starts, with earnings of $2,850,603.

Video: Diana S. (G1T)