Proctor’s Ledge looks for turf sweep in Diana
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Although they are rarely referred to as such, the Lake George Stakes (a G3 at 8½ furlongs), Lake Placid Stakes (a G2 at 9f) and Diana Handicap (a G1 at 9f) make up a series of sorts for female turfers at Saratoga.
The first two races are restricted to 3-year-olds. The Diana, while officially open to females 3&up, is effectively the province of older runners; only one 3-yearold has won the race in the past 30 years. In addition, only one female has won all three races: Memories of Silver, who swept the Lake George and Lake Placid in 1996, then returned as a 5-yearold to take the Diana in 1998.
In today’s $500,000 Diana, Proctor’s Ledge has a chance to equal Memories of Silver’s feat of two decades ago. Winning the Lake George and Lake Placid was the highlight of the Ghostzapper filly’s sophomore season. She comes into the Diana off a win in the Distaff Turf Mile (G2) at Churchill and a strong second in the Just a Game Stakes (G1) last out. Oddsmakers have made Proctor’s Ledge the 4-1 third choice in the seven-horse field.
There’s a second streak on the line in this year’s Diana, this one involving trainer Chad Brown, who will be looking for his third straight victory in the race following Dacita in 2016 and champion Lady Eli last summer. Brown will saddle the two morning-line favorites, Sistercharlie (9-5) and A Raving Beauty (2-1) – Europeanbreds who have shown considerable promise in their brief American Careers – as well as New Money Honey (8-1).
The Irish-bred Sistercharlie, a Group 3 winner in France as a 3-year-old, is a neck and a head short of being undefeated in three U.S. starts. After being outfinished by New Money Honey in last year’s Belmont Oaks – and being away from the races for nine months – the daughter of Myboycharlie came back strong this spring, romping in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley and then not quite catching Fourstar Creek in the New York Handicap (G2). All but one of Sistercharlie’s eight career starts have been at distances beyond nine furlongs.
A Raving Beauty, a daughter of Mastercraftsman bred in Germany, has won both of her U.S. starts, most recently a threequarters of a length decision over Proctor’s Ledge in the Just a Game. The 5-year-old mare was Group 1-placed in Italy last October.
The well-traveled Hawksmoor is next at 6-1. After winning a pair of graded races at Belmont last spring, she failed to win in her next five outings in Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland and California. She comes into the Diana off a troubled fifth as the evenmoney favorite in the Gamely (G1) at Santa Anita.
In her most recent race, New Money Honey (8-1) got up to win in an 8½-furlong optional claimer at Belmont, her first victory since the 2017 Belmont Oaks. Ultra Brat, also pegged at 8-1, exits a 10¼-length score in the Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico. The New York-bred War Canoe (50-1), a former claimer, steps way up in class today.