Shantisara Wins Pucker Up

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – Trainer Chad Brown won his third title in the past five runnings of the $100,000 Pucker Up Stakes (G3) on Saturday, held for the final time at Arlington Park.

Shantisara, the 9/5 favorite under Flavien Prat, sat mid-pack in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies before splitting rivals in the stretch and clearing away from Oyster Box to win the 1 1/8-mile good turf route by 3 lengths in 1:51.91.

Oyster Box stalked early leader Spritz but was unable to hold off the hard-charging bettors’ choice. Flown, Time for Glory, Double Blessed, Spritz, and Shesa Mystery completed the order of finish. Serene scratched.

Shantisara’s win was her first at the stakes level and improved her record to 7-3-2-0 with $113,108 earned for co-owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Robert LaPenta. The Irish-bred Coulsty filly was 5-2-1-0 to start her career in France, then finished second in June’s Boiling Springs Stakes at Monmouth Park while making her stateside debut.

Shantisara returned $5.60 to win, $3.40 to place, and $2.40 to show. Oyster Box brought back $3.40 to place and $2.40 to show. Flown paid $2.40 to show.