Saratoga: Watsdachances makes U.S. debut in P.G. Johnson

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown has already proven adept at developing a top-flight turf filly. Maram, in 2008, and More Than Real, in 2010, each won her debut at Saratoga and went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, although More Than Real was sold and won it for somebody else.

In Watsdachances, Brown has a ready-made filly he hopes can take him back to a race like the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Wednesday, Brown gets his first opportunity to find out how good a filly she is when Watsdachances makes her North American debut in the $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes at Saratoga.

Watsdachances, an Irish-bred daughter of Diamond Green, raced twice in April in Ireland, finishing third in her debut and winning her second start by six lengths. Shortly after that second start, Peter Bradley purchased the filly privately for himself and Michael Kisber and she was transferred to Brown.

“She came over here a few months ago and hasn’t missed a beat and acted proper since the first day I sent her to the track,” Brown said. “Even though she was running short distances over there, she’s a nice, tall, two-turn-looking filly to me. I don’t think she’ll have any problem stretching out.”

The P.G. Johnson is run at 1 1/16 miles on the inner turf.

Trainer Todd Pletcher has an uncoupled trio of juvenile fillies in the P.G. Johnson, including Top Tier Lass, Skyfall and Tara From the Cape. Top Tier Lass was most impressive winning her debut at 5 1/2 furlongs by seven lengths on July 30. Skyfall won an off-the-turf race going seven furlongs here on Aug. 5. Tara From the Cape was a private purchase after she won her debut at Woodbine in June. In her first start for Pletcher and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Tara From the Cape won the Thomas Greene Memorial at Delaware Park.

Of Top Tier Lass Pletcher said: “She gives us the impression she’ll stretch out. Skyfall had trained better for us on the turf, even though she broke her maiden for us off the turf. Tara From the Cape won a stakes for us at Delaware a month ago and has trained well since. This is a step up in competition.”

Da Mi Basia Mille, trained by Christophe Clement, rallied from 11 lengths back to win her debut here on July 23 at 1 1/16 miles. Broken Spell, the fifth-place finisher from that race, came back to win a maiden race here on Aug. 19 and was entered back for this spot by trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Wayne Catalano has the coupled entry of Incredible Journey, a debut winner going a mile at Arlington, and Oscar Party, who is 0 for 2 but finished a decent third in an Aug. 12 maiden race.

Almost an Angel and Go Kitten Go are both trained by Wesley Ward, but run as separate betting interests.