Sea Calisi has found her place in the U.S.

Martin Schwartz found success in the Grade I Beverly D. for the fourth time when Sea Calisi (FR) stormed home under jockey Florent Geroux to win by half a length at Arlington International Racecourse on Aug. 13. This was the second victory in the stake for the team of Schwartz and trainer Chad Brown, who joined for a win with Stacelita (FR) in 2011. Schwartz’s other wins came in 2005 with Angara (GB) and 2006 with Gorella (FR).

 

The 4-year-old daughter of Youmzain (IRE) was making her third start in North America. She won the Grade II Sheepshead Bay Stakes in May and had a tough trip to finish a close second to Dacita in the Grade II New York Stakes on June 10. Breaking from post 13 of 14 in the Beverly D., she was given the perfect ride by Geroux, settling back early from a hot pace and then swinging five-wide on the final turn to catch the leaders just before the wire.

 

With her win, Sea Calisi has earned an automatic entry into the starting gate of the Grade I $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on November 5 at Santa Anita Park. Schwartz says they plan to race her before then, in the Grade I Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont Park on October 1.

 

“We always have had the same plans if she won [the Beverly D.], that was to go to the Flower Bowl and then the Breeders’ Cup. As long as she stays healthy, the plan is to run her next year. I love racing – it’s all a function of whether I want to keep winning races.”

 

When asked about the likelihood of Sea Calisi traveling overseas, Schwartz was clear that he intends to keep her in North America.

 

“I don’t think [racing her in Europe] is the proper thing to do, we are happy here. Chad is her trainer and he has his plate full in the U.S. I don’t think he has any desire to go anywhere else. The saying goes, if it’s not broke don’t try to fix it.”