Peter Brant

The 3-1 third choice in a field of seven, Joseph Allen's progressive Civil Union (War Front) built on her last-out success in the GII Glens Falls S. at Saratoga with a breakthrough top-level tally in Saturday's GI Flower Bowl S. at Belmont Park, securing a berth in the gate for the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in the process. Allowed to settle last but one beneath Joel Rosario, with only G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr})'s half-sister, French and American Group...

When Ettore Sottsass was asked which of his many diverse achievements had given him most satisfaction, he gave a shrug. "I don't know," he said. "Life is a permanent project. It's a passage from one thing to another." The Italian designer and architect transcended disciplines in a fashion not dissimilar to his compatriot Federico Tesio, whose singular genius was as stimulated by his furniture workshop as by his breed-shaping stud farm. And there's a corresponding breadth of engagement to the man who wrote to the widow of Sottsass, asking permission...

2020 G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}-Starlet's Sister {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) has been retired and will take up stallion duties at Coolmore Stud in Ireland, owner Peter Brant announced on Tuesday. A colourbearer for Brant's White Birch Farm initially with Coolmore buying a 50% interest earlier this year, the 2019 French highweight's fee will be announced later. "A world champion at three and now an Arc winner at four, I have decided to retire Sottsass after what he has achieved," said Brant. "He...

3rd-Belmont, $63,000, Msw, 9-26, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:39.43, ft. AMERICAN WEST (f, 2, Curlin--Jacaranda {GSW, $207,200}, by Congrats), a $925,000 Keeneland September purchase, sat relatively handy to a strong pace, came calling for the lead three off the inside at the furlong grounds and withstood a late rails rally from Millefeuille (Curlin) to graduate at first asking Saturday at Belmont Park. Settled in a stalking third as favored Jouster (Noble Mission {GB}) set the pace from expensive Louisiana-bred Leia Marie (Exaggerator), American West, chilly on the board at 5-1, was...

3rd-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 9-7, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.63, fm. EDITOR AT LARGE (IRE) (f, 2, Lope de Vega {Ire}--What Say You {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}), a 160,000gns TATDEF; weanling turned 260,000gns TATOCT yearling, was the better-backed of an uncoupled Chad Brown entry and ran to 11-10 favoritism to open her account at first asking. Alertly away, Editor At Large was overtaken by stablemate Domain Expertise (Kitten's Joy), the 29-10 second choice, and ultimately settled in fourth position as Blue Kentucky Lady (Carpe Diem) was allowed to bowl along up...

Last-out G1 Prix Ganay winner Sottsass (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) is on course for the G3 Prix Gontaut-Biron at Deauville on Aug. 15 after pleasing connections in a route piece of work on Thursday. "He did a simple work, as we are accustomed to do," said trainer Jean-Claude Rouget of Peter Brant's 4-year-old. "The goal is not to have a hard work; once they have made their seasonal bow, we do maintenance work. They worked over 1,800 metres-all went well. The horse has a good action and he behaves as he...

Trainer Chad Brown has won the last three runnings of the GII Ballston Spa S. and five of the last eight and he's likely to add to those totals when he sends out champion Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) Saturday afternoon at Saratoga. Never worse than fourth in her 15 career appearances, the Peter Brant colorbearer defeated her favored stablemate Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in defense of her title in the GI Diana S. about this time last year and became the first in history to win the GI Beverly...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY--While most everything looks and feels different at spectator-less Saratoga Race Course this summer, trainer Chad Brown has maintained standard form. Brown has won three of the last four meet training titles--in 2019 by a whopping 20 victories over Todd Pletcher--and led the standings through the first four days of the 40-day season. It is pretty much standard Saratoga stuff for Brown, 41, who grew up about 17 miles away in the small city of Mechanicville and was schooled in the sport at the historic track. Brown won...

Ger Lyons took his second Irish Classic of the season on Saturday with the Coolmore-owned Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and is already looking forward to her 4-year-old season. "A real plan hasn't been made, but her real career could kick in at four because there's a good programme for the older fillies," he said of the three-time winner. "There's obviously the Yorkshire Oaks, but I wouldn't be in a rush to take on Love, without talking to connections they let all of their horses take each other on, but...

Ger Lyons had suffered a rare downturn at The Curragh's weekend meeting when Frenetic (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) was overturned in the G2 Airlie Stud S., but the Irish Oaks-winning trainer was straight back in the game with Peter Brant's Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass) in Sunday's G2 Kilboy Estate S. Causing an upset when upstaging Saturday's Classic heroine Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G3 Park Express S. over a mile at Naas Mar. 23, the bay had confirmed her class when adding the Listed Victor McCalmont Memorial S. to...

Dunbar Road (Quality Road) lays over a field of eight entered for Saturday's GII Delaware H. Last term's GI Alabama S. and GII Mother Goose S. heroine followed a third-place finish behind Blue Prize (Arg) (Pure Prize) in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. with her lone career off-the-board finish, reporting home fifth behind that foe in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Santa Anita. Trained by Chad Brown, the Peter Brant colorbearer got right back on track with a visually impressive, come-from-behind victory while making her 4-year-old debut in the...

Dunbar Road, last year's GI Alabama S. winner, did herself no favors at the start, but asserted her superiority just the same to kick off her 4-year-old season successfully. Guided to the rail at the back of the pack following a stutter-step start, the bay scraped paint while biding her time under stout Jose Ortiz restraint before coming off the fence and creeping closer midway down the backside. She started to rev up leaving the home bend, and swept up to take a narrow advantage after six panels in 1:13.06....