Diana S. | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘Rising Star’ In Italian Forgets To Stop in Diana

At 8-1, Peter Brant's In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) may have been the least fancied of the four Chad Brown runners in this six-horse renewal of the GI Diana S. Saturday at Saratoga, but she did the most running, wiring the field in a course record-setting performance. Her three stablemates–Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), favored Brant colorbearer Bleecker Street (Quality Road) and Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), partially owned by Brant–finished behind her in that order for a Brown superfecta.

Hesitating for just a breath while breaking from post six, In Italian quickly got underway beneath Joel Rosario, hustling up to take control with the only two non-Brown runners Creative Flair (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Dalika (Ger) (Pastorius {Ger}) tracking her through a :22.45 opening quarter. Seeming well within herself as she set a :45.83 half-mile, the 'TDN Rising Star' clocked three-quarters in 1:09.50 as barnmate Technical Analysis revved up on her outside. The chestnut turned for home in front with Technical Analysis trying to make a race out of it from second, but that foe never posed a serious threat. In Italian kept on finding in the lane, crossing the line 1 1/2 lengths clear in a new course record time for nine furlongs of 1:45.06.

It was Brown's seventh Diana win overall and sixth in the last seven years. Two of those wins came with Brant's champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}).

“We had a plan,” Brown said. “She was training super in the morning. She's been the lead horse in the works with Regal Glory two or three weeks in a row at Belmont. I've been so impressed with her not letting Regal Glory by her, who I regard as the top mare in the division just slightly over Bleecker Street. I instructed Joel [Rosario] to just try to make the break. I told him to, 'Go and don't worry about it. If you give her a little breather down the backstretch, fine, but she's going to run the race of her life today,' and she sure did. We had a good feeling.”

He continued, “They separate each other when you run them together. My approach is, I would rather run them against each other and settle it on the track than start to cherry pick who's running and who's not and a bunch of “What Ifs” if I ran the one I didn't run. I felt good about Technical Analysis maybe getting a jump on Rougir and Bleecker Street, but sure enough In Italian found another gear, much like she has in the mornings recently.”

“I just think she's a terrific filly and she wouldn't be in here if we didn't think she had the ability to win,” Brant said. “The instructions to Joel [Rosario] were ride this race like you can win, not just for pace, and he did it.”

“It looked like she had the speed on paper,” Rosario said. “It looked like there were other horses with speed too on paper, but Chad told me to let her break and go on into the first turn and she put herself forwardly placed. She was nice and relaxed in front and ran a big race.”

A second-out graduate at Belmont in May 2021, In Italian resurfaced in January, wiring a Tampa allowance. She followed suit with a win in Gulfstream's Mar. 5 GIII Honey Fox S. and was second next out in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. May 7. The 475,000gns TATOCT buy entered this test off a third behind stablemate Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in Belmont's 10-panel GI New York S. June 10.

Pedigree Notes:

In Italian is the 51st Grade I/Group 1 winner for her legendary sire Dubawi. She is also one of 152 graded winners and 234 black-type scorers for that Darley stallion. The winner is a half-sister to GSP Villa Carlotta (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and SP Fasano (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}). Her Group 3-winning dam Florentina (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus})–a half to Group 1 winner Gathering (Aus) (Tale of the Cat)–is also the dam of the 2-year-old colt Spanish Empire (GB) (Kingman {GB}), who summoned just shy of A$1.8 million from Tom Magnier at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She was bred back to Kingman on Southern Hemisphere time and sent through the 2020 Inglis Chariman's Sale, bringing A$650,000. That breeding resulted in a still unnamed juvenile filly. Florentina visited Yes Yes Yes (Aus) Dec. 23.

Saturday, Saratoga
DIANA S.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 7-16, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:45.06 (NCR), fm.
1–IN ITALIAN (GB), 118, f, 4, by Dubawi (Ire)
               1st Dam: Florentina (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $250,958), by Redoute's Choice (Aus)
               2nd Dam: Celebria (Aus), by Peintre Celebre
               3rd Dam: Twyla (Aus), by Danehill
1ST GRADE I WIN. (475,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Peter M.
Brant; B-Fairway Thoroughbreds (GB); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Joel Rosario. $275,000. 'TDN Rising Star' Lifetime Record:
7-4-2-1, $591,220. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Technical Analysis (Ire), 120, f, 4, by Kingman (GB)
               1st Dam: Sealife (Ire), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Bitooh (GB), by Diktat (GB)
               3rd Dam: Sitara (GB), by Salse
(200,000gns Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Klaravich Stables, Inc.;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Limited (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown.
$100,000.
3–Bleecker Street, 122, f, 4, by Quality Road
               1st Dam: Lemon Liqueur (SP), by Exchange Rate
               2nd Dam: Limoncella, by Lemon Drop Kid
               3rd Dam: Trip Around Heaven, by Halo
($400,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Branch
Equine, LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $60,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1HF, NK. Odds: 8.30, 3.80, 0.80.
Also Ran: Rougir (Fr), Dalika (Ger), Creative Flair (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Background Check: Diana

In this continuing series, we examine the past winners of significant filly/mare races by the lasting influence they've had on the breed. Up today is Saratoga's GI Diana S., contested at 1 1/8 miles on the lawn.

These days, the Diana is restricted to fillies and mares ages four and up. That wasn't always the case, as a number of 3-year-old fillies have won in the past. That's not the only thing that's changed: the Diana is such a fixture on the grass that it may come as a surprise to learn it was originally run on the dirt, not moving to the turf until 1974. The 84th edition will be run Saturday, but with two divisions run a few times and several mares who won the race twice–including most recently Sistercharlie (Ire) (2018-19)–there have been 78 individual winners of the Diana.

Following are the most compelling Diana winners in reverse chronological order. They haven't been reviewed by their own pedigrees or race records, but simply by what impact they have delivered through their sons and daughters.

Wonder Again (1999, Silver Hawk–Ameriflora, by Danzig): This mare produced more foals that didn't race than ones that did, but her two winners include Japanese MSW & MGSP Red Raven. An unraced daughter produced 2021-22 GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S. winner Colonel Liam, who also captured the 2021 GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S.

Starine (Fr) (1997, Mendocino–Grisonnante {Fr}, by Kaldoun {Fr}): She only had two foals: a gelded son and an unraced daughter. However, that daughter is making the most of her opportunities: she produced Irish champion Order of Australia (Ire), winner of the 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Mile; Iridessa (Ire), multiple Group I winner in Ireland and England and winner of 2019 GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and Santa Barbara (Ire), winner of the 2021 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and GI Beverly D. S.

Memories of Silver (1993, Silver Hawk–All My Memories, by Little Current): A Phillips family mare, like Wonder Again above, she produced four stakes winners (two graded), including Winter Memories, also a winner of the Diana and a stakes producer. Five of her six daughters have thus far produced black-type winners.

MGISW Elate has deep family ties to the Diana | Coady

Wild Applause (1981, Northern Dancer–Glowing Tribute, by Graustark): She is the dam of GISW Eastern Echo, MGSWs Roar and Yell, and additional GSW Blare of Trumpets. Her descendants include MGISW Elate, MGSW & MGISP Ironicus, MGSW On Leave and Tax, two full-brothers better known as top sires in GSW & MGISP Congrats and GSP Flatter, and several other GSWs.

Hush Dear (1978, Silent Screen–You All, by Nashua): C.V. Whitney sold this mare and his widow, Marylou, bought her daughter Dear Birdie while trying to revitalize his breeding program. The latter became a foundation mare for Marylou Whitney and was named Broodmare of the Year in 2004. Her descendants include champion and Kentucky Oaks winner Bird Town, Belmont/Travers/Champagne winner Birdstone, and MGSW Bird Song.

Javamine (1973, Nijinsky II–Dusky Evening, by Tim Tam): This mare deserves a mention even though she won't live on in pedigrees. She lived only long enough to produce four foals, only two of which lived past age three. However, those two foals were MGISW Java Gold and English GSW Spicy Story. Both were sires, with the best of their combined progeny being the wonderful Eclipse champion Kona Gold, who was a gelding.

Glowing Tribute (1973, Graustark–Admiring, by Hail to Reason): In addition to producing two daughters who also won the Diana–the phenomenal Wild Applause detailed above and two-time Diana winner Glowing Honor–she also produced MGISW Hero's Honor, Kentucky Derby/Travers/Champange winner Sea Hero, GSW & GISP Mackie, and GSW Coronation Cup (who almost made it a third daughter to win the Diana). In addition to Wild Applause's wildly accomplished offspring, descendants of Glowing Tribute also include European champion Mozart (Ire) and Chilean champion Il Campione (Chi). She was named Broodmare of the Year in 1993.

MGISW Colonel Liam is out of an unraced daughter of Wonder Again | Horsephotos

Tempted (1955, Half Crown–Enchanted Eve, by Lovely Night): This two-time winner of the Diana, for whom Aqueduct's Tempted S. is named, produced only one stakes winner. However, when taking into account her daughters and granddaughters, more than 50 black-type winners trace to her. And the line is continuing; for example, she is the fifth dam of GISW Rutherienne, who won or placed in 17 graded stakes.

Searching (1952, War Admiral–Big Hurry, by Black Toney): A granddaughter of the immortal La Troienne, Searching won the Diana twice and produced multiple champion Affectionately, MSW Priceless Gem, and SW Admiring. She is granddam of the abovementioned Broodmare of the Year Glowing Tribute, as well as Horse of the Year Personality, French Horse of the Year Allez France, and the prolific top-level producer Lady Winborne. Additional Grade I winners who trace to her include the popular Lite Light and La Gueriere.

Misty Morn (1952, Princequillo–Grey Flight, by Mahmoud): Named Broodmare of the Year in 1963, her five stakes-winning foals included champion and Met Mile winner Bold Lad, champion Successor, and Test winner Bold Consort. Among her top descendants were MGISWs Dispute and Adjudicating.

Vulcania (1948, Some Chance–Vagrancy, by Sir Gallahad III {Fr}): She produced two minor black-type winners, but her daughters and granddaughters included a Broodmare of the Year and produced the likes of Horse of the Year Ferdinand and MGISW Tallahto. The latter produced two MGISW and is the granddam of Breeders' Cup winner Artie Schiller.

Busanda (1947, War Admiral–Businesslike, by Blue Larkspur): Another granddaughter of La Troienne, this mare produced Horse of the Year and four-time leading broodmare sire Buckpasser, as well as two other stakes winners. Her female-line descendants include champion Outstandingly, MGISW Polish Navy, and the wonderful La Affirmed line, responsible for (among others) recent MGISW star Maxfield.

Ouija (1947, Heliopolis–Psychist, by Psychic Bid): Epsom Derby winner Henbit and MGISW Queens Court Queen both trace to this mare.

Miss Grillo (Arg) (1942, Rolando {Arg}–Cedulilla {Arg}, by Picacero {Arg}): At first glance, this Argentinean import didn't produce much of note, but her daughters more than took up the slack. Among her descendants are European champion Meadow Court and MGISW Marquetry.

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Once Again, Chad Brown is Loaded for the Diana

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – It is pretty much impossible to overstate just how invested trainer Chad Brown is in the Diana S., the first Grade I of the Saratoga season, which will be run on Saturday.

Brown earned the first Grade I victory of his career when Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune) prevailed in 2011. He has won the race five more times, all in a row, for a stakes record six. He has entered the race for 13 consecutive years and had at least one horse in the top three for 11 straight years, a streak that ended last year.

The depth and strength of the turf fillies in Brown's stable is no secret and was made clear again this summer when he was responsible for 10 of the 14 nominations for the race. He will saddle four of the six horses that were entered, three of them owned or co-owned by Peter Brant. Brown also had four starters in 2019 when his runners swept the top three spots.

Brown's lineup for the 1 1/8-mile race Saturday is led by Brant's unbeaten Bleecker Street (Quality Road). The seven-time winner earned her first Grade I in the New York S. June 10 at 1 1/4 miles. Bleecker Street will start from post three, just to the inside of Brant and Michael Tabor's Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}), who is making her third start in the U.S. Rougir was a Group 1 winner in France last year. Brant's speedy In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) drew the outside. She was most recently third to stablemate Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) in the GI Just A Game S. On the rail is Klaravich Stable's Technical Analysis (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), winner of the GIII Lake George S. and GII Lake Placid S. at Saratoga last summer.

Brown said his crew of 4-year-old Diana runners have arrived at the race from a variety of directions.

“There are the horses that we develop from scratch, so to speak, like a Bleecker Street that we had as a baby,” Brown said. “We bought her across the street [at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga 2019 Yearling Sale for $400,000], Mr. Brant and I. She's an overachiever. When we bought her, we thought she was going to be a dirt horse. She didn't really train well on it. We started her off kind of at 'Triple A' down there between Monmouth and the Meadowlands and then she just got good. And we gave her a shot in the big leagues, and this horse is undefeated.

“Then we have some European horses to go along with her that are really good. You know, like Rougir and Technical Analysis and In Italian.”

Brown said that many of his turf stakes fillies arrive as young horses and grow in his program.

“You go through the list and they're all different types of horses,” he said. “Fluffy Socks is a homebred with a modest pedigree. She's by Slumber (GB). Bleecker Street is a horse we bought across the street. Yes, there's some European horses that we bought. Technical Analysis I bought as a yearling and broke her. In Italian was the same. Rougir was a horse Mr. Brant paid a lot of money for. It gets a little bit misconstrued in the press sometimes, like 'these guys get sent the best horses.' We develop them.”

Though he nominated Regal Glory for the Diana, Brown has a more ambitious plan for the multiple Grade I winner he has handled throughout her career. Brown trained her for her breeder, Paul Pompa, and recommended that Brant buy her at the dispersal following Pompa's death.

“Probably run against the boys in the GI Fourstardave. I have another horse for the race, Masen (GB) (Kingman {GB}). They're probably going to have to run against each other. I think at this point, Regal Glory, I think she's best at a mile, a mile and a sixteenth. I really do. My long-term target for her is the Breeders' Cup against the boys at a mile. So, I'm leaning that way, but not for certain.”

Saturday's Saratoga card also features a loaded renewal of the GIII Sanford S. for 2-year-olds. 'TDN Rising Stars' Forte (Violence) and Andiamo a Firenze (Speightstown) lead the way in the 12-horse field following sparkling debuts downstate.

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Brown Looks to Keep Streak Alive in Diana

One of these years, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) may have to switch the name of the GI Diana S. to the Chad Brown.

With five straight victories, six wins overall and 17 in-the-money finishes since he saddled his first runner in the race in 2009, Brown has, well, dominated the 1 1/8 mile race for fillies and mares on the inner turf course. Brown will try to extend his unprecedented Saratoga graded-stakes streak Saturday with a pair of runners, Juddmonte's Pocket Square (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) and Peter Brant's Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass) in the first of 20 Grade I races to be contested at Saratoga this summer. They are part of the proven group of stakes horses that includes the Godolphin pair, Athiqua (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Summer Romance (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), who finished one-two in the GI Just A Game S. at Belmont Park June 5.

While a number of trainers have won some of Saratoga's graded stakes multiple times, Brown's streak in a Grade I stands alone. The closest is Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, who won the GI New York Turf Writers Cup H. steeplechase four years in a row, from 1989-1992. The race has been renamed in Sheppard's honor this year. Leo O'Brien, the father-in-law of Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, won the ungraded Yaddo S., for New York-bred fillies and mares, five consecutive times, from 1991-1995. Irish Linnet (Seattle Song) did the work for O'Brien in the streak with five straight wins.

After a five-year run as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, Brown launched his own stable in November 2007. His first Grade I came at Saratoga Race Course, his home track in his youth, in the 2011 Diana with Zagora (Fr) (Green Tune). He said Frankel regarded the Diana–which he won twice–as one of American's high-end top turf races and he does, too.

“It's been a special race. Ever since then we've really pointed toward it,” Brown said. “And we had the right horses a lot of the years.”

Indeed. Brown has entered the race for 12 consecutive years and has had at least one horse in the top three of the Diana since Zagora's victory. His win streak started with Dacita (Scat Daddy) in 2016 and he followed up with Lady Eli (Divine Park) in 2017. Brant's Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) took the 2018 and 2019 editions and Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) won last year.

“We've had tremendous success in the race with so many talented fillies through the years that we've had the opportunity to work with. All a little different,” Brown said. “It's a remarkable record, a lot of credit to my team and to the horses. It's a tough race. There's been no Dianas in that group that we've won that have been easy. We're bringing two nice prospects into the race. We'll have to see if we can keep it going.”

Lemista won a pair of group races in Ireland last year and was beaten a half-length in her lone start for Brown, the GIII Beaugay S. May 8. Pocket Square, who was also imported from Europe this season, finished fifth as the 5-2 favorite in the Just A Game.

Brown said the possibility of soft ground is a worry. There has been a lot of rain in upstate New York this month and more is in the forecast Saturday. The courses were rated “good” for Thursday's opening day program.

“It's concerning. It's definitely concerning,” Brown said. “I'd rather the turf be firmer for my horses. I think they can handle it. Lemista shows in her form that she could possibly handle it back home. We thought that Pocket Square could, but she didn't run well on soft turf in the Just A Game, so I'm concerned.”

Brown said a couple of factors might have contributed to her performance in the Just A Game.

“The soft turf, but she did run well back in Europe on the soft. So that was confusing,” Brown said. “She did miss her final work for the race because the rain came in. I was able to get some of the horses worked. On her schedule, it hit at exactly the wrong time to get her final breeze.

“So, she actually missed her last work. I didn't think it would affect her because she'd been training so strong in the weeks prior, but it might've. It probably did. So maybe it was more the work than the ground. I'm hoping, but we'll see.”

Brown said the Diana streak is a positive that he is enjoying.

“I don't really feel pressure so much, but more of I look forward to it,” he said. “I look forward to the challenge of keeping the streak going and maybe setting the bar very high for that race.”

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