Conditions a perfect fit for Sistercharlie in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

When Sistercharlie won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, she did so following a 12-week layoff over soft turf, ground that is not particularly to her liking.

This year, when Sistercharlie seeks to become the first repeat winner in the 21st running of the $2 million Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita, she is expected to do so with four weeks between starts and over firm turf, the type of ground over which she thrives.

Last year, Sistercharlie missed a start in the Flower Bowl at Belmont owing to a bruised foot. This year, Sistercharlie had a hiccup at the beginning of the year when an illness prevented her from getting her campaign started until July. She showed her class winning the Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga off a 7 1/2-month layoff. She then scored a three-length victory in the Grade 1 Beverly D., making it back-to-back years in which she won both the Diana and Beverly D.

Sistercharlie, trained by Chad Brown for Peter Brant, is on schedule for the Grade 1 Flower Bowl on Oct. 6 at Belmont Park. She has been preparing for that race by working the last three weeks in company with Bricks and Mortar, the top older turf male in the country, who also is pointing to a Breeders’ Cup race.

Sistercharlie will seek to give Brown a fifth victory in this race. In the past, he has brought multiple runners to the Filly and Mare Turf. So far, Brown is only pointing Sistercharlie to this year’s running, though her trusty companion Thais, typically used as a pacesetter, could be headed to the Breeders’ Cup if she gets in.

Five weeks out, the field for the Filly and Mare Turf is pretty much in flux, owing to the uncertainty of the plans for many European-based runners. Aidan O’Brien is surprisingly winless in 10 previous runnings of the Filly and Mare Turf with 13 runners. Magic Wand, fourth in this race last year, is among the horses he is likely pointing to this year’s running.

Aidan’s son Joseph has a top contender in Iridessa, whose victory in the Group 1 Matron on Sept. 14 at Leopardstown earned her a fees-paid berth into the Filly and Mare Turf. Joseph O’Brien could use the Sun Chariot Stakes on Oct. 5 at Newmarket or the Prix de l’Opera on Oct. 6 at Longchamp as a stepping-stone to the Breeders’ Cup.

The West Coast contingent of Filly and Mare Turf starters will likely be determined following Saturday’s Grade 1 Rodeo Drive, which drew only a field of five, including Kentucky shipper Beau Recall, Elysea’s World, Excellent Sunset, Paved, and Siberian Iris.

Vasilika, who is 11 for 12 at Santa Anita, will be pointed to the Grade 1 First Lady on Oct. 5 at Keeneland. She is trained and partly owned by Jerry Hollendorfer, who is currently banned from stabling or racing at Santa Anita and Golden Gate, both owned by The Stronach Group. His ability to participate in the Breeders’ Cup is a bit uncertain, as Breeders’ Cup officials will be the ones to make the final determination.