The $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, at 1 3/16 miles, looks like it will go through the Chad Brown-trained duo of e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ RUSHING FALL, who is undefeated in three starts this year, and Peter Brant’s SISTERCHARLIE (IRE), who won the race in 2018 en route to a divisional championship.
Rushing Fall, a 5-year-old daughter of More Than Ready who won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Del Mar in 2017, has had a remarkable career, as she’s won a Grade 1 race at 2,3,4, and 5, and is 11-for-14 lifetime. She’s also shown a love for the Keeneland turf course, where she is 5-for-6 lifetime, including a repeat in the Jenny Wiley (G1) in July.
Rushing Fall, who has not started since winning Saratoga’s Diana (G1) Aug. 23, will race beyond 1 1/8 miles for the first time. Sistercharlie, a 6-year-old daughter of Myboycharlie (IRE), was Champion Turf Female in 2018 after winning the Filly & Mare Turf at Churchill Downs and was third in the race last year at Santa Anita but is 0-for-2 this year. She hasn’t started since running third in the Diana. Sistercharlie is 10-for-17 lifetime and won the Jenny Wiley in 2018.
A trio of “Win and You’re In” qualifiers also could start, with Allen Stable’s homebred CIVIL UNION coming in off four straight wins for trainer Shug McGaughey, including the Flower Bowl (G1) at Belmont Park Oct. 10, while George Krikorian’s homebred MUCHO UNUSUAL won the Rodeo Drive (G1) Sept. 26 at Santa Anita for trainer Tim Yakteen, and His Highness The Aga Khan’s homebred TARNAWA (IRE) made it 3-for-3 this year for trainer Dermot Weld when she won ParisLongchamp’s Prix de L’Opera Longines (G1) Oct. 4. Graded stakes winners LADY PRANCEALOT (IRE), MEAN MARY, MY SISTER NAT (FR), NAY LADY NAY (IRE) could all start for the home team, while the Europeans could send ANGEL POWER (GB), AUDARYA (FR), CAYENNE PEPPER (IRE), HALF LIGHT (IRE), MEHDAAYIH (GB), NO LIMIT CREDIT (GER), PEACEFUL (IRE), and TEREBELLUM (IRE).
Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – Breeders’ Cup Challenge (BCC) Winners and Points Leaders
Photo: Sistercharlie wins the 2018 Diana. Credit: Elsa Loreiul
