Brown Runners Tune Up for Diana

A pair of runners from the barn of trainer Chad Brown tuned up for expected starts in the July 17 GI Diana S. with works over the inner turf course at Belmont Park Sunday morning. Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass) went five furlongs in a bullet 1:01.80 (1/10) outside of stablemate Pocket Square (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}), who completed the drill in 1:01.89 (3/10).

Peter Brant's Lemista, a two-time group winner in Ireland last year, opened her stateside campaign with a late-closing runner-up effort in the GIII Beaugay S. last time out May 8.

Pocket Square, a Juddmonte homebred, was a group winner in France in 2019. After winning a Keeneland allowance in her U.S. bow in April, the 4-year-old is coming off a fifth-place effort in the June 5 GI Just a Game S.

“They both worked well with one another and are going to the Diana,” Brown said. “Lemista has relished the time in between her races. With Pocket Square, I'm drawing a line through the Just a Game. She was lined up so well going into that race and there were things I was hopeful she would be able to overcome, but it didn't quite work out.”

Brown has won the Diana six times, including the past five editions with talented turf distaffers Dacita (2016), Lady Eli (2017), Sistercharlie (2018-19) and Rushing Fall (2020).

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Brown Prepares Lemista, Pocket Square For Diana At Saratoga

Trainer Chad Brown breezed a number of horses over the Belmont Park inner turf on Sunday morning, including Lemista and Pocket Square who are both on target for the $500,000 Grade 1 Diana on July 17 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The pair of Diana aspirants worked five furlongs in company with Lemista completing her work in bullet time of 1:01.80 outside of Pocket Square, who finished off in 1:01.89.

Owned by Peter Brant, Lemista earned a 100 Beyer in her North American debut in the Grade 3 Beaugay on May 8 at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., finishing a late-closing second to Harvey's Lil Goil. The 4-year-old daughter of 2008 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass was a Group 2 winner three starts back at the Curragh over yielding going.

Juddmonte Farm's Pocket Square, a Group 3 winner in France, was impressive in her North American debut on April 7 at Keeneland and subsequently was fifth as the lukewarm favorite in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game on June 5 at Belmont.

“They both worked well with one another and are going to the Diana,” Brown said. “Lemista has relished the time in between her races. With Pocket Square, I'm drawing a line through the Just a Game. She was lined up so well going into that race and there were things I was hopeful she would be able to overcome, but it didn't quite work out.”

Brown has won the Diana six times, including the past five editions with talented turf distaffers Dacita [2016], Lady Eli [2017], Sistercharlie [2018-19], and Rushing Fall [2020].

On Saturday, Brown sent out Michael Ryan, Jeff Drown, and Team Hanley's Higher Truth for her stakes debut in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational, finishing a close third, beaten a half-length to Santa Barbara.

Brown said the daughter of the late Galileo will target the $700,000 Grade 3 Saratoga Oaks Invitational on August 8.

“I thought she ran well. I was proud of her effort,” Brown said. “It looked like she was in for a good chance late in the race and picked up a piece of it at the end. We'll probably move on to the next leg [of the Turf Triple series].”

Higher Truth arrived at the Belmont Oaks off two starts at ten furlongs, breaking her maiden by a half-length over the inner turf on April 22 before defeating winners on June 10.

“She's had three mile and a quarter races in a row, so she's gained a lot of experience and fitness,” Brown said. “I think down the road, she'll be able to run even further.”

Brown said he could have at least two fillies for the Saratoga Oaks as Rocky Sky, previously considered for the Belmont Oaks, opted to wait for the second leg.

Owned by Peter Brant, Rocky Sky is a two-time winner in her native Ireland, capturing the ten-furlong Salsabil last out on April 25.

“We thought she would benefit from more time going into the Saratoga Oaks, so that's where she's headed to,” said Brown.

Brown said recent allowance optional claiming winner Amy C will target the $150,000 Grade 3 Lake George, a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies on July 13 at the Spa.

Owned by Madaket Stable, Michael Dubb, and Robert V. LaPenta, the 3-year-old daughter of Charming Thought broke her maiden in March at Deauville before shipping to North America.

“It was a nice first time from out of the country for us. It seems like she's ready for a stakes now,” Brown said.

The post Brown Prepares Lemista, Pocket Square For Diana At Saratoga appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Lyons Takes Long View For Even So

Ger Lyons took his second Irish Classic of the season on Saturday with the Coolmore-owned Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and is already looking forward to her 4-year-old season.

“A real plan hasn’t been made, but her real career could kick in at four because there’s a good programme for the older fillies,” he said of the three-time winner. “There’s obviously the Yorkshire Oaks, but I wouldn’t be in a rush to take on Love, without talking to connections they let all of their horses take each other on, but I don’t think I need to do that with her.

“There’s no plan at the moment for Even So—she’s out in the paddock with Yaxeni and Lemista and she’ll be there all of this week at the very least to help her get over her exertions.”

He added: “The initial thinking was to find a little prep and head for [Champions Day at] Ascot.”

Lemista (Ire) (Raven’s Pass) added to a fantastic weekend for the Lyons stable with her victory in the G2 Kilboy Estates S. over nine furlongs. The filly, who was racing in the colours of American owner Peter Brant, has Even So behind her in third when winning the G3 Park Express S. in March before racing was halted. She then bounced back to win the listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. on June 20.

“Lemista is a great filly. It was a big decision to sell her for David Spratt,” said the trainer. “She’s winning over a trip shorter than I think is her best, and on ground quicker than I think she wants. If you could see her and Even So work on the gallops you’d be scratching your head, but they turn it on on the track. They lead the baby 2-year-olds on the gallops.”

Lyons added, “The day she won the Park Express we were speculatively black-type hunting, but Chris Hayes rode her and told us we were under-estimating her. I don’t think she’s an [Irish] St Leger type–I have Nickajack Cave for that, who won the Saval Beg. You could run Even So over a mile and six, or Yaxeni.”

A maiden winner last season, Yaxeni (Fr) (Maxios {GB}), owned by SBA Racing Ltd, which also races the smart juvenile Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), finished sixth in the Irish Oaks and has also been Group 3-placed this year.

 

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