Sistercharlie to skip Flower Bowl, train up to Breeders' Cup

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Chad Brown confirmed Monday afternoon what he had strongly suggested a week ago, that leading female turf horse Sistercharlie will skip Sunday’s Grade 1 Flower Bowl and train up to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Sistercharlie, who this year has won the Jenny Wiley, Diana, and Beverly D. – all Grade 1 stakes – had missed some training time due to a bruised foot. Though she has since worked twice, including a half-mile move in 48.76 seconds on Monday with Onthemoonagain over the Belmont turf course, Brown believes the prudent move is to wait for the Breeders’ Cup.

“She did fine [Monday], but it just doesn’t feel right to me,” he said. “I just want to give it some more time for her to be right at her best.”

Brown does plan to run Fourstar Crook and Onthemoonagain in the Flower Bowl, which is part of the Win and You’re In series, offering a fees-paid berth into the BC Filly and Mare Turf.

Fourstar Crook has been beaten twice in Grade 1 races by Sistercharlie, and defeated her in the Grade 2 New York. Onthemoonagain, a 4-year-old French-bred daughter of Cape Cross, finished third in an allowance race and fourth in the Grade 2 Glens Falls, both at Saratoga.

Others under consideration for the Flower Bowl include Danceland, Feeling Bossy, and Lady Montdore.

On Monday, Danceland worked a half-mile in 48.03 seconds over the Belmont turf course in company with Jaunt.