Sweet Brown Sugar came into the $40,000 Shesastonecoldfox off a flashy maiden victory in open company last month, giving plenty of reason to deserve the favorite’s role in Monday’s feature at Finger Lakes.
The 2-year-old daughter of Collected ran to her 1-4 odds, shrugging off a challenge from Maggy’s Palace around the far turn before drawing clear to a 5 1/2-length victory in the 6-furlong open stakes.
Bred by Chester and Mary Broman and foaled at their Chestertown Farm in Chestertown, Sweet Brown Sugar improved to 2-for-2 in the Shesastonecoldfox. She won her debut – also as the favorite – in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden race Oct. 18 at Finger Lakes for owner Richie Rich Racing Stable and trainer Paul Barrow.
Maggy’s Palace, fifth in the Lady Finger Stakes last time out, broke sharp in the Shesastonecoldfox under Jackie Davis before conceding the lead to Sweet Brown Sugar and Jeremias Flores.
Sweet Brown Sugar took over from there and clicked off a tepid opening quarter-mile in :24.03 with mild pressure from Tomaki with Maggy’s Palace and She She’s Shadow chasing from there. Sweet Brown Sugar shook off Tomaki entering the far turn, took some pressure from Maggy’s Palace midway on the bend and turned back that foe approaching the half in :48.09.
Sweet Brown Sugar turned for home well clear and opened up by 4 lengths in midstretch. She cruised to the finish from there, winning in 1:12.40 over the fast track. Maggy’s Palace held second, 7 lengths in front of She She’s Shadow with Tomaki, World Bank and Unbridled Sister completing the field.
Sweet Brown Sugar, who earned $24,000 to boost her bankroll to $43,260, originally sold for $10,000 through the Sequel New York consignment at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga New York-bred yearling sale. She was then offered as part of the Scenic Sales consignment at this year’s OBS June sale and brought $32,000 from Nick Hines, agent for Richie Rich Stables.
Sweet Brown Sugar is the first foal out of the Broman’s homebred Bodemeister mare Rachel’s Blue Moon, the winner of two of 11 starts and $97,096. Rachel’s Blue Moon is out of the Broman’s homebred multiple stakes-winning and Grade 1-place El Corredor mare Beautiful But Blue, who is also the dam of stakes-placed Montebello. Beautiful But Blue won five of 17 starts and earned $395,450. She’s out of the multiple stakes-winning Dixie Brass mare Beautiful America, who won six of 21 starts and earned $523,927 for the Bromans from 2002 to 2004.