Lemista gives Brown third consecutive Matchmaker triumph

OCEANPORT, N.J. - The Chad Brown train kept rolling at Monmouth Park on Saturday as a determined Lemista fended off a gallant Fluffy Socks to win an exciting edition of the Grade 3, $200,000 Matchmaker Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

The Matchmaker was Brown's third of four winners on the card, with runners still to be saddled in the Grade 1 United Nations and the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational. Brown won the Matchmaker for the third consecutive year and has captured six of the past eight runnings.

Lemista, ridden by Flavien Prat, had a much better trip in the Matchmaker than in her prior run, a third-place effort in the Grade 3 Eatontown at Monmouth on June 18. In that start, Lemista rated off a very slow pace and still rallied well along the inside for a share.

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She broke much better today, however, and found a comfortable tracking position outside another stablemate, Flighty Lady, who carved out fractions of 23.82 and 48.34 over the firm going.

Flighty Lady checked out midway on the second turn and Lemista set sail for home with Fluffy Socks and jockey Manny Franco looking strong to her outside.

Lemista dug in grimly during the final sixteenth and stayed on to prevail by a half-length in 1:47.07. It was another neck back to Vigilantes Way in third. Completing the order of finish were Flighty Lady, favored Lady Rockstar, Core Values, and Wholebodemeister.

Lemista, who returned $11.20 as the fourth choice in the wagering, was given a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

"She doesn't have a great turn of foot, but she's strong and steady," Brown said in the winner's circle after the race.

A Group 2 winner in her native Ireland in 2020, 5-year-old Lemista won for the first time in six starts since being transferred to Brown's care last year.

"She just needs to break and get position," Brown added. "Today, for the first time, she had really good forward position. She has a kick, but she's not the kind of horse to circle the field."

Brown was also pleased with the effort shown by two-time graded winner Fluffy Socks.

"She's very consistent and had a little bit more challenging trip losing ground on the final turn. That was probably the difference."

Vigilantes Way tucked into a good pocket position on the backstretch, weaved her way through minor traffic along the rail, and gave another good effort for trainer Shug McGaughey.

Brown mentioned races like the Grade 1, $500,000 Beverly D. Stakes at Churchill on Aug. 13 or, more likely, the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga two weeks later as possible next starts for the top two finishers.

Bred by Drumlion Bloodstock, Lemista is owned by Peter M. Brant. A daughter of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass, Lemista has won 5 times from 13 starts for earnings of $362,350.