Brown Extends Record Run in First Lady Presented by UK Healthcare

Trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance of the First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare with the 1-2 finish by owner Peter Brant’s Blowout (GB) and Regal Glory.

Brown has won the past four runnings of the 1-mile race and five overall. The only other trainer with multiple wins in the race was Brown’s mentor, Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Brown’s other winners are Dayatthespa (2014), A Raving Beauty (GER) (2018) and Uni (GB) in 2019 and 2020.

Both fillies came out of the race well along with sixth-place finisher Viadera (GB), according to Baldo Hernandez, Brown’s assistant at Keeneland.

With the victory, Blowout received a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1) to be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Beaten a length for the $240,000 winner’s share was Empress Josephine (IRE) for trainer Aidan O’Brien and the ownership group of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

“She was very encouraging,” said Kieran Murphy, O’Brien’s assistant. “The plan is to run her back Saturday (in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup-G1 Presented by Dixiana) and I think the extra furlong should benefit her.”

Godolphin’s Althiqa (GB), fourth as the favorite after a rough trip, is scheduled to begin her journey back to Europe Monday night.

“You just can’t be that far back (early) at Keeneland,” said Christopher Durham, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby.