Brant’s high-profile trio leads a small cast in just one game

Appropriately, $500,000 Longines Just a Game Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park The June 11, named after Peter Brant’s 1980 women’s field champion horse, has Brant’s current influence.

Brant owns three favorites out of five in the one-mile grass race: King of Glory , Devil’s Voice and In Italy —All trained by Chad Brown.

At the top of the rankings is the 6-year-old boy, 1st grade winner, Regal Glory, the daughter of Animal Kingdom who has won six of her previous eight races, with her worst attempt being fourth in this race last year, behind Godolphin’s Althiqa . She won consecutively in Matriarch Stakes (G1T) in November at Del Mar; TAA Pegasus World Cup Invitation Shares Filly & Mare Turf presented by PEPSI (G3T) in January at Gulfstream Park; and Jenny Wiley Stakes (G1T) in April at Keeneland. She will be ridden by Jose Ortiz from lesson 2.

“She’s been training superbly and you can see from her races that she’s never been better,” Brown said. “She’s exceeded all expectations this season. She’s the top grass mare in the country until proven otherwise. It would be nice to get that job done for Peter.”

Speak of the Devil, purchased for the equivalent of $2.2 million at Arqana’s December Livestock Share Sale, was the clear winner of her bow at the Longines Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes ( G2T) on May 7 at Churchill Downsstable friend coming soon In Italian 2 3/4 length.

A five-time winner in 14 starts in France before joining Brown, she will be looking for her first senior win but has come pretty close before that. Last August she finished third in the Prix Rothschild (G1T) in Deauville and in June 2020 she finished second in the Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (G1), both by more than a mile.

Flavien Prat has a call back from lesson 3, while Irad Ortiz Jr. start in Italian from lesson 4.

“The Devil’s Voice has come out of her race and all signs say she’s a mare moving forward,” Brown said. “With the Italian Degree, I think it depends on her background. She is training well.”

Gary Barber and Team Valor International’s Wakanaka coached by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, placed third in the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile and second in the Honey Fox (G3T).

Completing the field is William Sims’ Leggs Galore eastward carrier for coach Phil D’Amato on the strength of three consecutive bet wins, including Buena Vista (G2T) on March 5 at Santa Anita . Park over miles.