Saratoga: Stacelita works on turf to prep for Beverly D.

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Chad Brown won the first Grade 1 race of his training career when Zagora rallied to a convincing victory in Saturday’s Diana Handicap. The following morning, Brown was back at the track preparing another of his top turf fillies, Stacelita, for a shot at perhaps his next Grade 1 win.

Brown sent out Stacelita to work five furlongs in 1:00.94 seconds over the Oklahoma turf course on Sunday in preparation for her next start in Arlington’s Grade 1 Beverly D. on Aug. 13.

Stacelita, a four-time Group 1 winner in France, broke off two lengths behind stablemate Desert Sage and finished a half-length in front at the wire, covering her opening three-eighths in 38.17 seconds before completing her final quarter-mile in 22.77 while well within herself throughout. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.

Stacelita, a 5-year-old French-bred mare, finished third while beaten just a length making her U.S. debut for Brown in the United Nations at Monmouth Park on July 2. Like Zagora, she is also owned by Martin Schwartz.

“I thought this work was much stronger than her work last week,” Brown said of Stacelita. “She showed a lot more life this morning. She was a little quiet last week and I think that was because her race in the United Nations may have taken a little out of her. I really liked what I saw today. She was into the bridle a lot more.”

Brown also said he is pointing Desert Sage, who worked five furlongs in 1:01.40, for the Grade 2 Ballston Spa here on Aug. 27, but said she could run in a third-level conditioned allowance race later in the week. Desert Sage won a pair of allowance races at Gulfstream Park to open her U.S. career for Brown and was also second in the Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico.

“There’s an extra on Thursday at a mile and one-eighth on the turf I might run her in if it goes,” said Brown. “That still gives me enough time to have her ready for the Ballston Spa. If not, I’ll just train her up to the stakes.”

As for Zagora, Brown said he is undecided what might be next for the filly who gave him his first Grade 1 win.

“She probably ran a lifetime-best number so I won’t run her back for at least five or six weeks,” said Brown. “We have lots of options with one being the Spinster at Keeneland. She trained so well over the artificial surface there this spring. I’ll just let her breeze a couple of times and see what her energy level is before making a decision on where she’ll go next.”

Brown was still savoring Zagora’s big win in the Diana and his milestone accomplishment while back at work on Sunday morning.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Brown. “It was very special to me for my first Grade 1 win to come at Saratoga.”