Saratoga: Watsdachances prevails by neck in P.G. Johnson

Barbara D. Livingston

Watsdachances, ridden by Javier Castellano, scores in the P.G. Johnson Stakes.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -  Trainer Chad Brown pinpointed Wednesday’s $100,000 P.G. Johnson Stakes for Watsdachances almost from the moment the Irish-bred got off the plane and arrived at his barn earlier this summer,  then had her fit and ready to deliver a game neck decision over Broken Spell in the first turf stakes for 2-year-olds of the meet at Saratoga.

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Watsdachances was purchased privately by owners Michael Kisber and Bradley Thoroughbreds shortly after posting an impressive six-length maiden win in her native Ireland on April 29. A daughter of Diamond Green, Watsdachances benefitted from an early speed duel that compromised the chances of the 6-5 favorite Top Tier Lass, rallying down the center of the course to overtake the tiring leaders before outgaming Broken Spell to the wire. Tara from the Cape finished another 1 1/4 lengths farther back in third with Top Tier Lass fading to finish sixth.

Watsdachances was ridden to victory by Javier Castellano, who celebrated the birth of his third child the previous day.
Watsdachances completed the distance in 1:42.90 and paid $9.50.

“Peter Bradley, the same guy who bought Desert Blanc for us, put together the sale,” said Brown. “As soon as she got off the plane, I had her about three days, I said 'Let’s go for the P.G. Johnson.  He gave her to me in plenty of time and luckily she broke her maiden early enough we weren’t forced into a situation of running her off the plane. I had just enough time to get her acclimated over here and she fit into her program really well. It worked out beautiful.”

Brown said he was proud of the way his filly was able to win her stakes bow despite a wide trip.   

 “I was looking for cover with a horse like this but she never really found it,” said Brown. “Javier was trying but never could get in but she overcame it.  I think she’ll move forward off this race. I really do.”

Brown said Watsdachances has been nominated to and will be pointed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.

“We’ll give her one more prep although I don’t know where or when that will be yet,” said Brown.