HORSE RACING Sistercharlie still reigns as the Saratoga turf queen

By Jeff Scott – and also managed to give a leg up to all four jockeys.

Another reason to visit the paddock was that maybe the order in which Brown saddled his horses would be a clue to the outcome of the race. For the record, he began with Rushing Fall (the narrow 8-5 favorite), and for some strides in mid-stretch, the daughter of More Than Ready looked as though she might win her fourth straight Grade 1. But then Sistercharlie (9-5), unraced since last year’s Breeders’ Cup, shifted into high gear, flashing the devastating turn of foot that characterized her championship run in 2018, finally putting away Rushing Fall inside the sixteenth pole en route to a 1 3/4-length victory.

“Another great performance from a great mare,” Brown said in the winner’s circle. “She showed why she’s the best. [Owner] Peter [Brant] made the decision to come back and race her another year. He’s a great sportsman and he loves seeing this horse run. We were going to start her campaign a little earlier, and she got sick on us. We had to wait, and [Brant] was very patient.”

Rushing Fall held second by a neck over fast-closing Homerique, the third Brown starter.

Secret Message, Mitchell Road and Thais trailed in that order. The running time for nine furlongs over “good” going was 1:47.93.

Thais, Brown’s fourth starter, shook things up early by tearing through the opening quarter in 22.10 seconds. Bill Mott’s Mitchell Road went with her, and those two stayed up through the turn. Rushing Fall and Sistercharlie were moving together in third and fourth, respectively.

“I bided my time a little bit,” said winning jockey John Velazquez. “By the three-eighths pole, it was time to go, and I know [Sistercharlie] takes a bit to get going, so I’d rather go wide than stay behind other horses and not get there. It was a great effort by her.”

Rushing Fall got by the two tiring leaders in upper stretch, but Sistercharlie was making up ground on the outside and soon collared the new leader. Rushing Fall resisted for a few strides but Sistercharlie had the momentum to go on to victory.