For the second year in a row, it was trainer Chad Brown’s longest shot of his four entries that came through in the $500,000 Diana (G1) at Saratoga on Saturday.
With four of the five starters in the field for the 1 1/8-mile race for older fillies and mares on turf, Whitebeam at 7-1 nosed out stablemate and 1-5 favorite In Italian, who won the 2022 edition at 8-1 – the longest shot of Brown’s four entries in that one.
Brown has now saddled the Diana winner seven of the last eight years.
Whitebeam, a British homebred owned by Juddmonte, had never run so far and entered the race off a 2 ½-length win in the Gallorette (G3) at Pimlico on May 20.
The 4-year-old stalked In Italian from the start, moved into second around the final turn and made her move under Flavien Prat in deep stretch to pull out the victory.
Fev Rover, the one entry trained by Mark Casse, finished well for third, a half-length behind In Italian.
Brown’s Marketsegmentation and Fluffy Socks ran fourth and fifth, respectively.
“We had a good trip. She got us into the race, and I was behind In Italian, who I thought was a good filly to follow,’’ Prat said. “And she really (dug) in down the lane. It was a great effort.”
Added Brown: “Whitebeam, she also ran just a little bit better today and was able to handle the soft ground and showed a lot of heart late.”
Next up for the 1-2 finishers could be the $750,000 First Lady (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 7. Brown has won the race five years in a row.
“It’s in play certainly (for Whitebeam), as for In Italian, who has had tremendous success at Keeneland. We’ll just have to see. Keeping the horses healthy is the main thing,” Brown said.
In a pair of Grade 3s on the Saratoga undercard, Casa Creed ($6.50) won the $175,000 Kelso for over 4-5 favorite Annapolis for 4-year-olds and up on turf and 46-1 longshot Yo Yo Candy ($94) upset 1-5 favorite Gold Sweep, who stumbled at the start, in the $175,000 Sanford for 2-year-olds.
It was Yo Yo Candy’s trainer Daniel Velazquez’s first victory at Saratoga, and the first American graded stakes win for jockey Angel Castillo.
“I jumped from the balcony over here,” Velazquez said. “I don’t even know how I got here. This is a dream come true. As a kid, you dream of winning races here and here I am.”
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
