Sistercharlie makes Flower Bowl a sixth straight Grade 1 win

Reigning champion Sistercharlie continued her march to the Breeders’ Cup looking ready to defend her title in the Filly & Mare Turf as she won Belmont Park’s Grade 1, $500,000 Flower Bowl Invitational with relative ease.

Stablemate and designated pacesetter Thais shot to the lead in the 1 1/4-mile feature by more than 10 lengths early on while setting reasonable fractions of :24.21, :49.17 and 1:15.31 for six furlongs. Jockey John Velazquez remained patient aboard the Chad Brown trainee, racing in fourth in the strung-out field. Sistercharlie started her move on the final turn and mowed down the leader in the stretch looking less than fully extended.

Sistercharlie completed the trip on grass in 2:02.21.

"I didn't feel like they were going very fast in front," Velzquez said. "The two horses in front of me kept slowing down and obviously [Thais] just opened up. She was on the bridle and she's never on the bridle. I tried to leave her where she was comfortable and let her go from there."

Sistercharlie has now won six straight Grade 1 wins dating back to last season as part of the longest such streak since Zenyatta.

"I think she's going down as one of the greats," Brown said.

Mrs. Sippy, a last out graded stakes winner, ran on to be second, while Thais held for third.

Sistercharlie was away as a 1-5 favorite in the field of seven and managed to do two better than her 3-year-old brother, Sottsass, who ran third earlier in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe behind Waldgeist and the great Enable.

A daughter of Myboycharlie, Sistercharlie was running third off the layoff Sunday after also defending victories in Saratoga's Diana (G1) in July and Arlington Park's Beverly D. (G1) on August 10.

Brown said he was particularly impressed with this performance because Sistercharlie was previously winless at Belmont Park.

"She did everything she needed to do," Brown said. "She was 0-for-2 at Belmont going in. Even though it was only by short margins both times to two other of our nice horses, she was nevertheless winless here. The case could be made that this isn't her favorite course, but she got the job done."

Brown indicated things are all systems go for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare turf after this performance.

"We're pretty confident as long as she stays healthy," Brown said. "I don't think we've reached the bottom of her. Some of the setbacks that she's had have been a bit disappointing, but it's kept her fresh so it really goes both ways."

He added from the winner's circle: "She's as good as she's ever been."