Randomized Never Leaves Cruise Control in Molly Pitcher

Already a graded stakes winner as a 3- and 4-year-old, Randomized added to her extensive résumé at 5 with an emphatic score in the July 19 $495,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) at Monmouth Park. Making her second start of the year for trainer Chad Brown and owner Klaravich Stables, Randomized turned the tables on her last-out Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1) conqueror Dorth Vader, whose aggressive early tactics made the winner's easy victory all the more impressive. Fifth in the Ogden Phipps when failing to make her desired spot on the lead over a sloppy track, the Molly Pitcher was Randomized's race for the taking when the gates opened. Breaking smartly under jockey Flavien Prat, Randomized was as bold and brazen a leader as the race's namesake on the front end, carving out testing splits of :23.97, :47.25, and 1:10.98 with Dorth Vader breathing fire down her neck. "She's a mare that always is forwardly placed," Prat said of Randomized. "She jumped well out of the gate and got herself in the lead and took it from there. She felt very good." Ears pricked heading into the far turn, the looming Dorth Vader had no response for Randomized as the field spun into the stretch. Powering clear under little urging, Randomized never left cruise control for Prat, striking the wire three lengths ahead of her closest rival. Majestic Oops, victorious in her last three races for trainer Dan Ward, closed gamely from midpack to get up for second over Candied. Dorth Vader faded to finish fourth. A tepid favorite over Dorth Vader and Candied, Randomized ($6) completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.75 over a fast main track. Improving her bankroll to $1,706,550 with her Molly Pitcher win, Randomized is the second-leading earner for her sire, Darley stallion sensation Nyquist. Brown Notches Ninth Matchmaker Win With Segesta Segesta returned to the winner's circle for the first time in more than a year when prevailing by a neck to take the $300,000 Matchmaker Stakes (G3T). Her victory gave trainer Chad Brown an unprecedented nine wins in the 1 1/8-mile turf affair for fillies and mares 3 and up. Brown has captured the Matchmaker for the last six straight years. Brown had three entered in Saturday's race, with Segesta favored over her stablemates Grayosh and Spaliday. A grade 2 winner in last year's Wonder Again Stakes (G2T) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Segesta was exiting two frustrating efforts as a 4-year-old ahead of the Matchmaker. Guided by regular rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Segesta's pilot in seven of eight lifetime starts, the pair hounded the front-running No Mo Candy through moderate early fractions of :24.70 and :50.09. Turning for home, Ortiz got to work on the daughter of Ghostzapper, who put away a stubborn No Mo Candy and held off the late charges of Sacred Wish and Grayosh for a narrow score. Segesta ($7.60), a Juddmonte homebred daughter of grade 1 winner Antonoe (First Defence), stopped the timer in 1:49.17 over a firm turf course. Favored Sacred Wish, second by a nose over Grayosh, lost for the fourth time since winning the Matriarch Stakes (G1T) in December at Del Mar.