In Italian leads Brown's 1-2-3-4 finish in Diana Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Though on paper In Italian was the least accomplished of the four fillies trainer Chad Brown had entered in Saturday’s Grade 1 Diana at Saratoga, she had been training and holding her own with the most accomplished female turf horse in the trainer’s barn.

In Italian, who had been working in the morning with three-time Grade 1 winner Regal Glory, beat three of her stablemates Saturday afternoon, scoring a 1 1/2-length, front-running victory in the $500,000 Diana Stakes at Saratoga.

In Italian, ridden by Joel Rosario, led a 1-2-3-4 finish for Brown in the Diana as behind her, in order, were Technical Analysis, the previously undefeated Bleecker Street, and Rougir. Dalika and Creative Flair brought up the rear in the six-horse field.

In giving Brown his seventh victory in the Diana - all since 2011 - In Italian set a Mellon Turf course record of 1:45.06 for 1 1/8 miles, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:45.22 set by Hard Not to Like in this race in 2015.

In Italian was given a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.

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“I’m so lucky to have so many great horses in the division and when you can work them together and put them in some different situations in the morning drills I can see when they’re really in peak form, and I can also identify their preferred way to run,” Brown said. “She’s been holding as high company as you can with Regal Glory and she ran to her works today.”

Regal Glory, who has two Grade 1 victories this year, is pointing to the Grade 1 Fourstardave against males here on Aug. 13.

In Italian had won three of six starts, her biggest victory having come in the Grade 3 Honey Fox Stakes going a mile at Gulfstream Park in March.

She was coming off a third-place finish behind Regal Glory and Wakanaka in the Grade 1 Just a Game at Belmont on June 11.

There appeared to be other speed in the Diana, most notably Dalika, but In Italian was too fast for her, opening up and maintaining a 1 1/2-length advantage through a quarter in 22.45 seconds and a half-mile in 45.83. In Italian widened the advantage to 2 1/2 lengths after six furlongs in 1:09.50.

Technical Analysis, fourth early under Jose Ortiz, made a run at In Italian in midstretch - getting within a half-length - but In Italian had more to fire and held Technical Analysis at bay. She finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Bleecker Street, who got third by a neck over Rougir.

In Italian, a Great Britain-bred daughter of Dubawi owned by Peter Brant, returned $18.60 as the longest price of the four Brown-trained runners.

Brown said he had heard about horses like Dalika and Creative Flair possibly going to the lead. He said he told Rosario “You’re going.

“I said just go and don’t worry about it, if you give her a little breather down the backside fine, but she’s going to run the race of her life today and she sure did,” Brown added.

Despite the ultra-quick fractions, Rosario said In Italian was comfortable and, when Technical Analysis got to her, she rebroke.

“It looked like she was going very easy, she looked like she was enjoying everything she was doing out there,” Rosario said. “It was easy for her. It was an unbelievable race.”

Jose Ortiz, who rode Technical Analysis, knew that In Italian was going fast, but he also knew she was going to fight when he challenged her.

“When I got to her by the three-sixteenths she reboke and I said it’s done now,” Ortiz said.

Though Brown won the Diana, there were still some disappointments to sort out in the performances of Rougir and Bleecker Street, the latter suffering her first loss after seven straight victories to begin her career.

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“It is the first time either has run on this turf course, we know Rougir maybe struggles with a firm turf and with Bleecker Street her first trip at Saratoga, maybe it will prove to show that the speed’s been good with some of the more quality races today,” Brown said. “There’s a lot of things to digest exiting the race and I’ll get to work on that tomorrow.”

*** The Diana was one of four wins on Saturday’s card for Brown. Amazingly, Reinvestment Risk, the 1-2 favorite in a second-level allowance race, wasn’t one of them. He finished fifth.

Brown won a $40,000 claimer with Higher Quality ($3.90), a New York-bred turf allowance with Shutters ($14.60) and an open turf allowance with Credit Event ($11.20).

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