Brown Eyes Royal Ascot With Memories Of Silver Victress Sweet Rebecca

By Christian Abdo 

Resolute Racing’s Sweet Rebecca lived up to her post-time favoritism with an impressive stakes debut in Sunday’s $150,000 Memories of Silver (L), a one-mile inner turf test for sophomore fillies, at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trainer Chad Brown notched a record-extending fourth Memories of Silver triumph, after enjoying past successes with Consumer Spending [2022], Significant Form [2018], and Consumer Credit [2015].

Sweet Rebecca, who was acquired last month by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing shortly after a successful debut for trainer Brendan Walsh going one-mile on March 10 at Gulfstream Park, is now 2-for-2 lifetime.

“I’m really pleased with her. She’s a nice horse,” said Brown. “I want to thank Mr. John Stewart for purchasing her and transferring her to me and my team. I’m so happy for him. He’s new in the game and building an impressive roster of both racehorses and broodmares and he’s a real pleasure to deal with.”

Piloted by Tyler Gaffalione, the American Pharoah chestnut emerged well from post 2 and settled along the inside in fourth position as fellow Brown-trainee Miss Mottley pressured one length off of Faith Understood, who led the seven-horse field into the first turn through an opening quarter-mile of :24.65 over the firm turf.

The Manny Franco-piloted Faith Understood maintained a narrow advantage over the stalking Miss Mottley around the first turn with Youknownothing tracking outside of her in third position as Sweet Rebecca continued to save ground from fourth.

Sweet Rebecca, who was a bit keen when sitting behind horses in the first turn, was content with her rail skimming-ride down the backside as Faith Understood held a one-length cushion over Miss Mottley as the half-mile elapsed in :49.38.

“She was much more professional today. She got herself out of the gate and into a good position. She settled great down the backside,” said Gaffalione, who traveled to New York from Kentucky to ride after guiding her on debut. “She’s a professional filly and shows a lot of talent.”

Franco asked the pacesetting Faith Understood around the far turn and kept a one-length advantage over the tiring Miss Mottley as Gaffalione prepared to tip Sweet Rebecca out to make her run at the leaders after three-quarters in 1:12.98.

As Miss Mottley faded, Gaffalione navigated Sweet Rebecca out from the rail and into an opening in the two-path, taking dead aim on Faith Understood. With clear air and a shake of the reins, Sweet Rebecca closed powerfully to put a head in front of the pacesetter at the stretch call and would extend to a widening 1 1/2 lengths as she crossed the wire in a final time of 1:35.79.

Faith Understood battled on gamely for place-honors with another 1 1/4-lengths back to Curlin’s Girl, who closed along the rail to get a nose in front of Living Magic for third.

Munny Grab, Youknownothing, and Miss Mottley rounded out the order of finish. Most of All was scratched, along with main track-only entrants Camera and Thirteen Red Flags.

Brown said that Sweet Rebecca could make her next start in the Coronation (G1)for 3-year-old on June 21 at Royal Ascot, which would mark his first contestant at the historic meet.

“It all worked out and I do think this filly might be my first Ascot starter. For right now, I’d say it’s likely her next start would be in the Coronation,” Brown said. “She’s a serious filly and trains with a lot of power. She has a nice turn-of-foot, strong horse.”

Stewart, who has been active at the sales for the past year, said Sweet Rebecca fits the bill for what he looks for on-track now and in future breeding endeavors.

"She is exactly what we look for,” Stewart said. “She lines up with our breeding program long term, and so we’re trying to pick off a lot of these really good running fillies that we think will be good in our program later and have fun with them while they’re racing, and then keep them out of the auctions, so we jumped at that opportunity, I’m happy we made a good decision with that, and from here, we’re planning on taking her to Ascot.”

Franco said that the Jonathan Thomas-trained Faith Understood, who cut back in distance from a second-out graduation going 1 3/16-miles on April 5 at Keeneland, was game in defeat.

“I walked the dog a little bit and almost stole it. She ran good but we were second best. She kept going and never quit,” said Franco.

Bred in Kentucky by Mt Brilliant Farm and Ranch, Sweet Rebecca, out of the Grade 2-placed Discreet Cat mare Sweet N Discreet, is a full-sister to multiple turf graded stakes winner Sweet Melania. She banked $82,500 in victory while returning $3 on a $2 win ticket.