A Raving Beauty Looks for Better Luck in Ballston Spa

[Wandering Eyes]

Fresh off a sharp victory in the GI Longines Just A Game S., Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables and Bethlehem Stables’ A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) looked poised to capture another Grade I tally in the Diana S. at Saratoga opening weekend. At least, until the quarter pole, when she began to encounter traffic trouble and checked sharply off heels. Boxed in through the stretch after that, she had to settle for third behind fellow Chad Brown trainee Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). Saturday, she’ll get another shot at Spa glory as the likely favorite in the GII Ballston Spa S.

Second in the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio last October at Capannelle in Italy, the gray was privately purchased after that and made an auspicious Stateside debut with a three-length victory in the GIII Beaugay S. May 12 at Belmont. Parlaying a sweet stalking trip into her Just A Game score June 9, A Raving Beauty shows a trio of bullet works over the local Oklahoma training turf since her eventful Diana run, capped by a five-furlong spin in 1:00 3/5 (1/23) Aug. 16.

Brown also saddles two other runners in the Ballston Spa, giving him half of the six-horse field. Martin Schwartz’s Off Limits (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) became a Grade I winner with a score in the GI Matriarch S. last November at Del Mar, but the now 6-year-old mare hasn’t had quite the same punch this season, running fifth as the favorite in the GII Hillsborough S., third in the GI Jenny Wiley S. and fourth, again as the public’s choice, in the Just A Game. Rounding out the Brown trio is Quidura (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a narrow second to champion Lady Eli (Divine Park) in last year’s Diana, who most recently finished another close runner-up in a Belmont optional claimer July 15.

P K Siu’s Indian Blessing (GB) (Sepoy {Aus}), not to be confused with the two-time American champion filly, makes her North American debut in this spot. Victress of the G3 Sparkasse Holstein Cup July 4 at Hamburg in Germany, the chestnut was last seen running third, beaten less than a length at 20-1, in the G3 Lormarins Queens Plate Oak Tree S. Aug. 3 at Goodwood.

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