16-06-2025
'All The Talent In The World': Course Record Setter Rhiannon Possible For Diana
'All The Talent In The World': Course Record Setter Rhiannon Possible For Diana originally appeared on Paulick Report.
CHP Racing's Rhiannon took to the Belmont at the Big A turf like a bird in flight Friday, making a successful return to the races in a 1 1/8-mile optional claimer over the outer course in a 1:45.60 record time.
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With Irad Ortiz Jr. up for trainer Chad Brown, the 5-year-old Medaglia d'Oro mare showed the way through fractions of 24.10 seconds, :47.97 and 1:11.66 over the firm footing. She opened up by 3 1/2 lengths at the stretch call and finished up strong under a hand ride to score by four lengths, besting the previous course record of 1:45.70 set by Deterministic in the Fort Marcy (G2) on May 3. Deterministic exited that effort to capture the Resorts World Casino Manhattan (G1) during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
The Florida-based Phil Hatfield, who operates CHP Racing with his wife, Christine, was thrilled with the performance which earned a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
'She had to run, but she made it look easy,' Hatfield said. 'I think there was more in the tank there if you really wanted to push her. It was nice to break that record up there at Aqueduct.
'It was an exciting race for us because that mare has been stop, start, stop, start. Chad has done a great job and been very patient with her,' he added.
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The lightly raced bay was making just her fifth career start and first since a prominent four-length allowance score here in November in her lone start last year. She made three sophomore starts, including a second-out graduation in September 2023 before a close fifth in the Pebbles (G3) that November, both at the Big A.
Rhiannon was selected by Mike Ryan for $550,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and was broken in Florida by Niall Brennan.
'She has all the talent in the world. Hopefully, she comes out of the race in great shape,' Hatfield said. 'Mike found her for us at the yearling sale in 2021 and she went from Kentucky to Niall Brennan, who breaks all our yearlings, and they always liked her. In fact, Niall's assistant said she was his favorite that year. Chad saw her and liked her, and he's had her ever since – of course, off and on, because she's had little things that come up and needed time to heal, but she always comes back with a vengeance.'
Rhiannon is out of the graded stakes-winning Uncle Mo mare Auntie Joy, who is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Divine Oath. Rhiannon's fourth dam is Hall of Famer Personal Ensign.
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A potential next spot for Rhiannon could be the $500,000 Dunkin' Diana (G1) on July 12 at Saratoga Race Course.
'That's what everybody is talking about, and we hope that happens,' Hatfield said. 'She's exciting. She's a big mare, probably 16.3 [hands] but a lot of refinement – she's my kind of horse, elegant with a lot of leg underneath her. She has every bit of that.
'My wife named her, obviously a big Fleetwood Mac fan,' Hatfield added, with a laugh. 'When she gets ready to race, we turn that song on and crank it up and get motivated for the race.'
Hatfield said it's a privilege to have horses with Brown, who has won the Diana a record nine times.
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'He loves to win every race there, doesn't he - but the Diana, especially,' Hatfield said. 'If she ends up in the Diana, we'll get up there one way or the other. It's fun to have horses with him…Rhiannon has proven herself now, so we'll look forward to seeing where he goes with her.'
CHP Racing co-owns the Brown-trained Praetor with William H. Lawrence and Gainesway Stable. The sophomore son of Into Mischief graduated by a neck in September at Aqueduct over another famous son of Into Mischief in Sovereignty, who went on to capture both the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes.
'I say that to people all the time,' said Hatfield of the frontrunning maiden win traveling a one-turn mile. 'He looks a bit like Sovereignty if you look at him head on with that narrow little star, strip, snip on his face. He's an impressive horse with a lot of talent.'
Praetor, a $725,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, romped by 7 1/2-lengths in his seasonal debut in March in a one-mile optional-claimer at Gulfstream Park, but faltered to a 5 1/2-length third as the favorite in his two-turn debut in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) in April at Keeneland. The top-two from the Lexington have since posted good results with the victorious Gosger returning to run a game second to Journalism in the Grade 1 Preakness, while runner-up Bracket Buster captured Saturday's NYRA Bets Pegasus (L) at Monmouth Park.
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Praetor was nominated to the \Woody Stephens (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day June 7 at Saratoga Race Course but was not entered.
'He got sick. He was ready to go. He was cranked and ready to do well Chad thought and unfortunately, we had to pull back,' Hatfield said. 'He's back training again, but I'm not sure where Chad has him pointed.
'He was a little disappointing in the Lexington,' Hatfield added. 'I think they thought the two turns that early was too long for him and that's why they were going to shorten him up and put him in the Woody Stephens but that didn't come to pass. We'll see.'
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
