Imports Loom Large in Sheepshead Bay

Just a half-dozen older turf distaffers head to the post for Saturday's GII Sheepshead Bay S. at Belmont Park, with a pair of recently imported horses looking awfully tough to oppose.

Trainer Chad Brown has gaudy numbers both with horses having their first North American run (19%) and with horses making their first start for the barn (24%)–albeit with negative ROIs–and Sea Calisi (Fr) is the one the other five will be gunning for Saturday evening. Runner-up in the G3 Prix de Royaumont for previous owner Mulungu Bloodstock last May, this daughter of G1SW and three-time G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe runner-up Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}) carried the colors of Marty Schwartz to victory in the G2 Prix de Malleret the following month and was defeated just a half-length into third behind Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Covert Love (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in the G1 Yorkshire Oaks in August. A well-beaten third behind dual Arc winner Treve (Fr) (Motivator {GB}) in the G1 Prix Vermeille Sept. 13, she was never dangerous when seventh to Simple Verse (Ire) (Duke of Marmalade {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions F&M S. at Ascot Oct. 17.

Should she go postward, Moyglare Stud's Carla Bianca (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) would represent the biggest danger to the chalk. A dual Group 3 winner in Ireland for Dermot Weld, including a powerful defeat of the boys in last year's G3 Meld S. in July, the ground went against her when a driving rainstorm hit just ahead of the GI Beverly D. S. the following month and she struggled home in sixth. Last of nine in the G2 Blandford S. at The Curragh in September, she added blinkers and was runner-up to the useful stayer Panama Hat (GB) (Medicean {GB}) in the G3 Diamond S. over the Dundalk all-weather Oct. 2. Prevailing wet weather in metro New York could play a role.

“I wouldn't like the course to be too soft, so we'll have to keep an eye on the weather,” said new trainer Christophe Clement. “She's been with us all winter long and been training very well since she came from Ireland. She needs to run and we're excited in what she can do.”

Guapaza (Chi) (Seeking the Dia) has Chilean form through a couple of Chad Brown stablemates. Second to Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in the G1 Las Oaks in late 2014, the bay was a well-beaten fifth to Il Campione (Chi) (Scat Daddy) in the 2015 El Derby. Winner of three straight in Chile–including back-to-back Group 2 events–prior to her export, she ran on nicely to complete a stable trifecta behind Olorda (Ger) (Lord of England {Ger}) and Dacita in the GIII The Very One S. at Gulfstream Mar. 5.