Rougir's Beaugay victory continues Brant’s terrific year
ELMONT, N.Y. - When Rougir made a triumphant 2022 debut winning Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay Stakes by three lengths, it was the 10th graded win of the year for owner Peter Brant. Brant owns Rougir in partnership with Michael Tabor and M.V. Magnier.
Rougir joined Bleecker Street, Virginia Joy, Speak of the Devil, Regal Glory, and In Italian to win a graded turf stakes this year for Brant.
“Good year so far,” said Chad Brown, who trains all those runners for Brant.
Brown said Rougir, Bleecker Street, who is unbeaten in six career starts including three graded stakes this year, and Virginia Joy would all be considered for the New York Stakes on June 10, though he would likely just run two of the three.
Brown said what he was most pleased about regarding Rougir is how she did during the winter at Payson Park after being bought by Brant for about $3.3 million at auction in Europe in December. He noted that both Rougir and Speak of the Devil, who won the Grade 2 Distaff Mile at Churchill Downs on May 7, both acclimated well.
“They put a lot of weight on, their coats looked fantastic, they did everything you want to do for that winter break at Payson Park,” Brown said.
Brown said Rougir showed the same turn of foot in the Beaugay that she had shown in the morning and he expects her to improve at longer distances. The New York, a Grade 1, $750,000 race, is run at 1 1/4 miles.
Brown said that Speak of the Devil and Regal Glory, the latter the winner of the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley at Keeneland in April, will point to the Grade 1 Just a Game on June 11. Regal Glory worked five furlongs in 1:02.12 over Belmont’s turf on Sunday.