MOMENTS after winning the Diana Handicap at Saratoga July 21st, Chad Brown didn’t hesitate about his plans for Irish-bred Sistercharlie.

“I might bring her back in the Beverly D.,” Brown said. “I know it’s three weeks, but this filly is strong, she’s got a lot of constitution about her, she’s lightly-raced, if she’s sound, I’m going to go to Chicago.”

Brown went to Chicago and Sistercharlie did the rest, rallying to win the Grade 1 Beverly D. by a half-length over stablemate Fourstar Crook and Thais.

Owned by Peter Brant, the daughter of Myboycharlie won for the third time since leaving France. John Velazquez rode the winner. Athena could only finish seventh for Ballydoyle.

SECRETARIAT

Each year, there is a horse who is deemed claimer of the year. This year, certainly, we’ve seen the claimer of the year.

Tom Morley dangled Carrick for a $40,000 claiming tag in his debut. He won and he’ll never run for a tag again. Donegal Racing’s son of Giant’s Causeway upset the Grade 1 Secretariat, handing a neck defeat to favorite Analyze It. Velazquez, fresh off an ankle injury which sidelined him the previous week, guided the winner.

“We knew he’d run well, but to beat this field is really extraordinary,” said Donegal’s Jerry Crawford. “I said before we started today that you get to be world champion for a day if you win this race. Thank you to Arlington, one of the classiest places in the world, and thank you to Mr. (Richard) Duchossois, who has meant so much to this sport.”

The best of the Irish challengers was the Dermot Weld-trained Bandua in third who stayed on under pressure for third, Platinum Warrior finised well for fourth for Michael Halford but Hunting Horn (Ryan Moore) and Lucius Tiberius were unplaced for Aidan O’Brien.

In the spotlight

IF you’re taking notes on next year’s three-year-olds, jot down the name, Instagrand.

The son of Into Mischief improved his career mark to two-for-two with a handy win in the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar. Owned by Oxo Equine and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, the $1.2 million two-year-old purchase won by 10 1/4 lengths.