Segesta returns to the winner's circle

Juddmonte homebred Segesta added another Graded success to her resumé with a win in the Gr.3 Matchmaker Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday (19th July).

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 20th July 2025:

Segesta wrestled the lead away from long-time pacesetter No Mo Candy inside the final furlong and held off late challenges from favoured Sacred Wish and stablemate Grayosh to give trainer Chad Brown a sixth consecutive victory in the Gr.3 Matchmaker Stakes, the first Graded event on the Haskell undercard Saturday afternoon at Monmouth Park. It was a ninth victory in the event for Brown, all since 2015.

Deemed the biggest threat to Gr.1 Matriarch Stakes victress Sacred Wish from a pari-mutuel perspective, Segesta - one of three in the race from the Brown barn - bounced nicely from gate five beneath Irad Ortiz, Jr. and took up a stalking role from second as No Mo Candy dictated a soft tempo from the front. Traveling right alongside the front-runner down the back, Segesta continued to match strides and was held together for the run around the turn in what amounted to a sit-sprint renewal of the Matchmaker. Asked to quicken in upper stretch, Segesta ground her way past a very stubborn No Mo Candy and found the wire first for a cozy success. Sacred Wish enjoyed a covered-up trip from the fence, muscled her way into the clear with an eighth of a mile to race and fell just short, beating Grayosh for the place spot.

"I was so happy because my filly came back to me, and as soon as she came back to me I said, 'beautiful,'" said Ortiz, Jr. "Then I just bided my time. At the three-sixteenths pole I asked her and went a little aggressive on her because she was doing it so easy. I had to wake her up every step of the way. She's that kind where she doesn't like you to be too aggressive. I gave her a smooth ride and it worked out."

A maiden winner at third asking at Keeneland last April, Segesta came from just off the pace to take out the Gr.2 Wonder Again Stakes the following month, then just failed to hold off future Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf runner-up Cinderella's Dream in the Gr.1 Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes around this time last year.