She Feels Pretty Seeks Toughest Divisional Test Yet In Diana

[Wandering Eyes]

The GI Dunkin' Diana Stakes has run through the Chad Brown barn for the last three years and while Brown has two solid entries here, the race runs through the rail-drawn Cherie DeVaux starter She Feels Pretty (Karakontie {Jpn}). The 4-year-old Lael Stables-owned filly has won four straight dating back to last year, including three Grade I races over several of the rivals she'll line up against Saturday. For reference her last two 1 1/8-mile races resulted in wins by a combined 8 1/4 lengths and she'll be stepping back up, though just barely, to that trip from the 1 3/16-mile GI New York Stakes on yielding turf at the Spa June 6.

“She's doing well,” said DeVaux. “She's trained well here since the New York, and she's on track for this. She's been very impressive this year.”

Brown, who seeks his 10th overall Diana win, carries a strong hand to challenge She Feels Pretty with side by side entries starting with GI Just A Game Stakes winner Dynamic Pricing (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}). The Klaravich Stables runner, who got her top-level win on yielding turf, comes in on a two-race win streak but tries the 1 1/8-mile trip for the first time, though she did take the 1 1/16-mile GIII Beaugay Stakes at Aqueduct in early May without issue. Just to her inside, stablemate Excellent Truth (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) ran second as the favorite in the Just A Game for Resolute Racing and was also second in her first start stateside in the GI Jenny Wiley at Keeneland Apr. 12. John Stewart picked up the pair from France at the Arqana December Breeding Stock Sale for €1,600,000 at the end of 2024.

Excellent Truth and Dynamic Pricing | Sarah Andrew

“In both of her starts for me, she has been unlucky,” Brown said of Excellent Truth. “At Keeneland, she had a rough trip in the stretch and I'd say she is due for a cleaner trip this time around. At least, I hope so. Both Excellent Truth and Dynamic Pricing are on target for this, they've come out of their works well.”

Talent runs deep in this field with Saffie Joseph, Jr. shipping in 'TDN Rising Star' Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}). The 5-year-old mare dominated in the 1 1/8-mile GI Gamely Stakes at Santa Anita last out May 26 to tip her earnings over the seven figure mark and also kicked off her year taking the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational at Gulfstream. Sandwiched between those starts however is a head-scratching eighth in the Jenny Wiley.

“She is a good workhorse, loves her job, and getting that Grade I win on her resume was huge,” said Joseph, Jr. “The nine furlongs is good. She is unique in the sense that she has enough speed to go a mile, and enough stamina to go longer. Her ability to have that variation of distance is unique, but I feel that nine furlongs is perfect for her. It tests both speed and stamina.”

Adding yet another Grade I winner to the field, Choisya (GB) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) beat out Excellent Truth in the Jenny Wiley but faded from contention in the Just A Game last out for trainer Simon Crisford and Rabbah Bloodstock. The Jenny Wiley was this mare's first start in the states since taking several graded wins in the United Arab Emirates early this year.

Far Bridge Back On Track For Clement In Bowling Green

'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel) started his year a perfect two for two for Christophe Clement and ran well to wind up third beaten just a neck in the 1 1/8-mile GI Manhattan at Saratoga June 8. The 5-year-old LSU Stables runner now stretches back out to 1 3/8 miles, the winning distance two back in the GII Man O' War Stakes at Aqueduct.

Far Bridge at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

“Maybe the distance was a touch short at that level, but I think he ran a gallant race,” Clement said of Far Bridge's run in the Manhattan. “He ran a terrific figure and came out of it in great order. He ran probably too good of a race to lose, but that's racing for you.”

Clement also sends out Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile) who was eased last out in a rained-off edition of the GIII Belmont Gold Cup June 6 but has plenty of back class on the turf through the last 16 months.

Sandwiched between the stablemates, Webslinger (Constitution) comes in off a pair of seconds for Mark Casse. Second in the 1 1/2-mile Colonial Cup in September last year, the 5-year-old gelding then came off the extended layoff to nearly steal the GII Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine in his first try on the Tapeta May 31.

“He ran great his first start back at Woodbine,” Casse said. “I've been very impressed with him. I think he's training better than I've ever seen him. The key with him is he'll sit back and make his run. I'm expecting a big year out of him.”

Casse also saddles Corruption (Medaglia d'Oro) who ran fourth just behind Far Bridge in the GI Manhattan. He previously wired the field at Churchill facing allowance horses May 10 going 1 1/8 miles.

“He's definitely improved,” Casse said of Corruption. “He's our most improved child for the year. He likes to get in a rhythm and the farther you go, the easier it is to accomplish that.”

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