An odds-on favorite for the fourth time in her six-race career, Three Chimneys Farm and Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings' Guarana had to fight off a stubborn Mia Mischief to win Saturday's Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., by a half-length.
The victory was the 100th career Grade 1 win for trainer Chad Brown, who saddled his first runner in 2007 and picked up his initial Grade 1 in 2011 when Awesome Feather won the Gazelle Handicap.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Guarana covered seven furlongs in 1:21.70 on a fast track. Mia Mischief finished second, with Bell's the One 3 1/4 lengths back in third and Wildwood's Beauty fourth in the field of eight older fillies and mares.
Guarana is a 4-year-old by Ghostzapper out of Magical World, by Distorted Humor. She was bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm.
Guarana, breaking from the five post, led the way early, with Mia Mischief and Ricardo Santana Jr. putting on the pressure to her outside through an opening quarter mile in :22.95 and a half in :45.92. Approaching the furlong pole, Mia Mischief edged ahead of Guarana, six furlongs in 1:09.60, but Guarana came back on along the inside in the final sixteenth to get the win.
The victory was the fifth in six career starts for Guarana and her second of 2020 from as many outings. Unraced at 2, she won two G1s in 2019–the Acorn and CCA Oaks. Her only defeat came when second to Street Band as the 11-10 favorite in the G1 Cotillion at Parx Racing, her final start of the year.
Brown was not at Keeneland, but told the track's publicity department hitting 100 Grade 1 wins is “right up there near the top. It's a whole body of work from 12½ years now of training. It has to do with my team of co-workers, owners and horses both present and past. They all contributed to the 100 Grade 1s. God willing if everything stays intact, we'll work on the next 100. But we're going to enjoy this for now.
“(Guarana) showed her heart,” Brown said. “She showed that she's a very special horse, which we've known for a long time. I'm just so happy for the ownership group, especially Mr.(Goncalo) Torrealba (of Three Chimneys Farm), the original sole owner of the horse and the breeder. I've been associated with him and his family and horses for 17 years now going back to Bobby Frankel.
“To (get the 100th Grade 1 win) with one of his horses is really special. He's a real fine man. Very loyal. He was the first one to call me and congratulate me.”
“To get another win over Keeneland's track ahead of the Breeders' Cup (with Guarana) is very important too. And my team has done a really good job. Our division in Palm Meadows had (Guarana) all winter and prepared her for Churchill. I left her with my assistant Whit Beckman and the Churchill division, and they've done a terrific job. I'm really proud of them.”
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