Segesta capped a perfect weekend for Chad Brown and Juddmonte at Del Mar

The filly is a half-sister to Salamis, who took the Hollywood Derby the day before; both are out of Antonoe

Segesta finally scratched the itch and secured her first Grade 1 victory / BENOIT PHOTO

DEL MAR, California (Special to Turf Diario)—Thanksgiving Weekend turned bright Juddmonte green. In an unforgettable two-day stretch for Chad Brown and the iconic silks, the outstanding Segesta delivered a commanding performance in the GI Matriarch Stakes, completing a historic family double for both barn and breeder: just 24 hours earlier, her half-brother Salamis (Speightstown) had taken the GI Hollywood Derby. Both are out of the same mare, Antonoe (First Defense), turning Del Mar’s turf season into a full-fledged family celebration.

By Ghostzapper, Segesta entered the Matriarch with strong credentials but one lingering void: a Grade I win. At age four, she had already proven genuine top-class ability, though in two of her three prior attempts at the highest level she had been beaten less than a length. This time, there would be no doubt. Breaking alertly, she traveled smoothly on the outside as Flavien Prat settled her into a perfect stalking position in fourth, allowing In Our Time (Not This Time)—shadowed by the speedy Ag Bullet (Twirling Candy)—to carve out comfortable fractions of :23.65 and :48.06.

While the pace remained steady, Prat sat motionless, almost statue-like, confident in the turn of foot beneath him. Approaching the far turn, he merely nudged Segesta for a response, and she swept forward with remarkable ease, reeling in the leaders without the slightest strain. Straightening, she quickened decisively, overtaking the frontrunners with authority and drawing clear under minimal urging to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:35.60.

The victory marked Chad Brown’s seventh win in the Matriarch—one shy of the all-time record held by his mentor, Bobby Frankel. For Juddmonte, it was an eighth triumph in the race as owner, further extending their historic lead in the event.

Beyond the statistical resonance, the performance represented a milestone of maturity for Segesta, who now boasts 4 wins, over $1.19 million in earnings, and eight top-three finishes from 11 starts. She arrived at Del Mar off a razor-close runner-up finish—beaten only a head—in Keeneland’s GI First Lady in October, clear evidence that a big breakthrough was imminent.

“This filly deserved to win this race,” said José Hernández, Brown’s assistant, to FanDuel TV. “She knocked on the door so many times. She traveled great, she trained great here—she absolutely earned it. She’s really, really good.”

The result also reinforced the strength of her female line. Antonoe, winner of the GI Just a Game at Belmont Park in 2017 and a Group winner in France, had already proven her value as a broodmare through Salamis. Segesta now confirms it, while her 2-year-old Gun Runner filly, Directive, recently posted her first official work at Payson Park and looks poised to carry the family’s momentum forward.

For Juddmonte, Brown and a filly who had long been hovering on the edge of a major win, the Matriarch was far more than a Grade I score—it was the validation of a plan, a pedigree and a campaign that, with maturity, has only begun to reach its full potential.