Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

There’s a reason no one has ever won the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf in back-to-back years. Ditto for why no one, except Zenyatta, has been able to win seven straight Grade 1 stakes since 1973.

With all of that in mind at the 36th annual Breeders’ Cup, Peter Brant’s sensational 5-year-old mare Sistercharlie served up a powerful lesson in how elusive victory can be at the highest levels.

Sent off as a 4-5 favorite against nine international rivals, Sistercharlie’s bid for a second Filly and Mare Turf win in a row and seventh straight Grade 1 victory came to an abrupt end as she fell victim to a hard, speed-favoring course while finishing third behind trainer Joseph O’Brien’s European traveler Iridessa.

“She’s very special,” Brant said afterward. “She tried really hard but they didn’t come back. A good horse won. She was a little too far back. They went 1:09 and change so you thought they’d come back, but they didn’t.”

Since Brant intends to breed Sistercharlie, he left the door open to racing her next year at 6, if she comes out of Saturday’s race fine.

“I think we’ll try to keep her in training,” Brant said, “but we’ll see.”—Bob Ehalt