Chad Brown has four entered in the Diana at Saratoga on Saturday

By NY Hot List staff | Thursday, July 14, 2022

A field of six older turf females will contest the $500,000 Diana on Saturday at Saratoga. Chad Brown has four entered in the first Grade 1 of the meeting as he tries to win this historic race for the seventh time.

“It’s been a race we’ve focused on for many years now since I opened my own stable. Once again, we have horses that belong in the race,” said Brown.

Bleecker Street, who is undefeated in seven career starts, leads the Brown quartet on the initial Saturday at the Spa. She won her first race at Monmouth Park last summer and she has improved each time that she raced until last month when she won the New York (G1).

“She’s developed beyond anyone’s expectations, even mine,” Brown said. “Every time I’ve asked her to do something, she’s stepped up and done it. Every single one of her races has been a new challenge for her, and no matter the competition, distance or type of turf she’s on at various racetracks, she keeps meeting the challenges. 

“She runs faster numbers each time and is slowly getting better and stronger,” he added. “You can’t start your career any better than that, especially on turf, where you’re so trip dependent and weather dependent. For her to start off winning seven straight is just remarkable.”

The $500,000 Diana (G1) – Saratoga, Saturday, Race 8.

(4) Rougir moved to the barn of Chad Brown in 2022 after a noteworthy career in France that included a Group 1 win at Longchamps. She won her American debut in the Beaugay (G3) at Belmont Park as an odds-on favorite. Rougir was fifth behind her stablemate in the New York when the pace was slow and the turf was very hard. Brown brings her right back indicating that an improved effort is expected. (3) Bleecker Street is the horse to beat and, no doubt, will be a heavy favorite to extend her winning streak. She has run five times this year which is a lot for a Brown runner and it is hard for any horse to stay undefeated. I would be happy to see her keep winning, but as a heavy favorite I have to pick against her. (2) Creative Flair returns to America for Charlie Appleby and that alone makes her a win contender. She was a winner in her only start of the year in February at Meydan in Dubai in a Group 2. (1) Technical Analysis was a front-end winner last time at Pimlico in the Galorette (G3) for Brown.

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