Byrama, Charm the Maker renew rivalry with next generation
Nearly a decade ago, foes Byrama and Charm the Maker made up the exacta in a turf sprint stakes in California. On the opposite side of the country this Saturday, their sons Known Agenda and Rock Your World will meet again in the Belmont Stakes, going 1 1/2 miles on dirt.
Byrama, a British-born daughter of Byron, and Charm the Maker, by Empire Maker, met three times on the California turf. The first of those matchups came in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on April 7, 2012, with the classy Lady of Shamrock rolling home to win the race by 2 3/4 lengths. Byrama was second, with Charm the Maker less than a length behind in fourth after leading in the stretch.
That September, Charm the Maker again showed her speed in the Unzip Me Stakes, leading into the stretch of the 6 1/2-furlong event on Santa Anita’s downhill turf course. Byrama rallied fastest of all to best her by a half-length at the wire.
The fillies met for the final time in February 2013 in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes, going a mile on turf. Two-time Breeders’ Cup heroine Mizdirection won, with Byrama 3 1/2 lengths back in third, again narrowly ahead of fourth-place Charm the Maker.
As the two have become broodmares, Charm the Maker is off to a strong start. The versatile mare, whose stakes wins came in the Sharp Cat and the Adoration stakes on synthetic, but who also was Grade 1-placed on dirt in addition to her stakes performances on turf, is the dam of two winners from three starters, with Rock Your World joined by Grade 3-placed She’s Our Charm. Rock Your World showed his dam’s versatility, winning the Pasadena Stakes on turf before the Santa Anita Derby on dirt. He was a troubled 17th in the Kentucky Derby.
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Byrama’s biggest win came in the Grade 1 Vanity Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on synthetic, and she also won the Manhattan Beach and aforementioned Unzip Me sprinting on turf. Overall, she earned 14 other stakes placings on turf or synthetic. Known Agenda, winner of the Florida Derby before checking in ninth in the Kentucky Derby, is her first winner from three starters.