Sistercharlie begins 6-year-old season in Ballston Spa

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown believes he is bringing back to the races this year the same Sistercharlie that has been brilliant in her two previous seasons in training.

If that is true, then there likely won’t be much drama in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Ballston Spa Stakes at Saratoga in which the seven-time Grade 1 winner Sistercharlie makes her 6-year-old debut. If, however, Sistercharlie is not the same mare, there are two worthy rivals who could be in position to upset.

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Sistercharlie, the female turf champion of 2018, is making her first start since she finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Santa Anita last November. She emerged from that race with bone-bruising but was examined thoroughly and green-lighted to return at 6, something owner Peter Brant was desirous of doing.

Sistercharlie was targeting an April return, but racing schedules got messed up due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first major goal this summer is a third straight Grade 1 Diana, a race that is now scheduled for Aug. 23. The Ballston Spa, at 1 1/16 miles, is the bridge to that.

“That’s definitely as short as she wants to run,” said Brown, who has won this race four of the last five years. “I know she was able to get up in the [2018] Jenny Wiley and do it. It was a great race, but it’s certainly much shorter than she wants to run. That said, short field, she should work out a good trip and hopefully get up in time.”

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Sistercharlie is a closer and would appreciate some pace. Brown and Brant are putting in North Broadway, eligible for a first-level allowance, to “ensure a good pace and maybe hang on for a piece,” Brown said.

Starship Jubilee, Canada’s 2019 Horse of the Year, is 3 for 3 this year, with victories in the Grade 3 Suwannee River at Gulfstream in February and the Grade 2 Hillsborough at Tampa Bay Downs on March 7.

When the Jenny Wiley was postponed from April to July, trainer Kevin Attard opted to give Starship Jubilee a break, with the Ballston Spa as the return spot. She finished third, a half-length behind Significant Form, in this race last year.

“It took a little longer for her to come to hand, but her last few breezes have been really good and strong, I’m happy,” Attard said. “Hopefully, she puts in another of her usual performances.”

Attard said the presence of a rabbit in the race won’t hinder Starship Jubilee, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano.

“We’re very tactical,” Attard said. “I’ll leave that up to Javier. He’ll be in charge.”

Call Me Love, trained by Christophe Clement, was second to Rushing Fall in the Grade 3 Beaugay at 1 1/16 miles on June 3. She finished eighth in the Grade 2 New York at 1 1/4 miles on June 27.

Bramble Queen completes the field on turf. Another Broad is entered for the main track.

The Ballston Spa goes as race 3 (2:18 p.m. Eastern) and show wagering will not be allowed.