Beverly D – Grade I [BC]
AP   Race #4   1 3/16m   Turf   Graded Stake
Purse $600.000  For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Sunset Beach Bunny, trained by Nakamura Stables
We havent seen too many four year olds this year that can beat three year olds but this daughter of Cherokee Sunset has been doing that and has gone pretty much un noticed up to today. A winner of 9 from 12 she has a terrific record and has been brought along pretty slowly by her canny trainer who bought her last summer for just $85.000. Probably a career best win came in her last start, which is always a good thing, in the Dance Smartly Stakes where she beat Viking Amy with a strong late run. Her works have been improving and today she has a chance to break into the bigtime for the trainer of the moment.

2 Good Line, trained by Mb Stables
Talking of trainers of the moment here we have the best three year old turf routing filly, trained by the best trainer in the game taking on older horses with a weight allowance….need i say more. Her works are as good as all of them, she gets 4Lbs and a decent draw, it could be a very good day for Mb Stables with the BEL Oaks winner.

3 Sweeping Boots, trained by Drabfantasy
Another three year old who has as good a works as the older horses she too will look to get into the first three. My only worry with her is the trip as i think this one will test her stamina too far but with only three races under her belt she is unexposed and clearly talented. She has made the running in her last two starts and it paid off in the NM Breeders Oaks last time but failed in the Herecomesthebride Stakes before that. A soft lead and she may run well for a long way, a little restraint and she may come late, either way she looks to have a chance.

4 Duracell, trained by TwinTowersRacing
Another four year old in top form she was huge last time out in the Penny Memorial Handicap winning by an easy three lengths. Prior to that she had run very well in the grade one Gamely to be fourth and owns one of the fastest turf mile works in the field. Add all that up and she is an exciting chance for TwinTowersRacing.

5 Congratulations, trained by Chili King Stables
Beaten just a neck in last years BC Fillies and Mares Turf she has struggled to match that sort of form since. Her last start third in The NY was good though and a big move from Blushing Meadows to Chili King may be just the change of scenery she needed. Another with a fast turf mile work if she is in the same fame of mind she was last November she will go very close.

6 Sunset Black, trained by Team 7 Illusions
Beaten in three straight allowances she showed how the class structure has failed by then winning a grade three last time out. She beat a small but pretty good field that day and with a strong mile work in May i see no reason she cant be in the fight.

7 In Z Balance, trained by Diablo Diablo
This five year old has been on the graded stakes circuit for a while now running some super races against the best of her sex. A great second in the grade one Wiley in May was followed by a slightly disappointing fourth to Sunset Black in the RGD Stakes but with all the horses so close in ability she could easily reverse that today. Strong enough in all departments to get into the finish.

8 Condottieris Fox, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
Another five year old who has been there done that she ran a great race last time out to land the NY and really looked like she grew an extra leg over the longer trip. Beating Congratulations that day she looked on top of her game and as she has already proven that she can win grade ones may be a lively hope to see off the three year olds.

9 Command And Conquer, trained by John Henry
She has been highly tried throughout her career but looks like she is now getting up to this sort of class. A regular on the Oaks circuit as a three year old she stepped up this year to win the Hillsborough and then ran a great race in the Wiley to be a close third. Her last start saw a second in the grade one Just A Game and she comes here a very good representative of the champion sire Commanding. The wider draw may see her end up getting a little way back but she is sure to be finishing strongly.

10 Eastern Sky, trained by Maxmillion Farm
Ran a great race to be third in the BEL Oaks and you only have to look at her 1.34 and 3 work in May to realise that with the age allowance she will be right in this. The wide draw will likely put her up on the pace which is OK as long as she doesnt get caught too wide and my only fear will be her stamina at the end.

11 Wayn, trained by Team 7 Illusions
Beaten in allowances since winning a maiden claimer she ran a stormer to be just beaten in the DEL Handicap at grade one. We know the class system doesnt exist so whether that was improvement or just more of the same we wont know until she runs her race today. A strong mile work in August on the turf suggest she can handle this change of surface but the wide draw may be just too much to overcome.

12 Devil Wears Prada, trained by Axeman
One of the toughest horses in training it is sad to see her occupying the coffin draw but i wouldnt let that totally rule out her chances. Only beaten a neck in the Wiley she went on to win the grade one Gamely and then flew late to be a close third in the Diana some of the best form in this race. She is in the best form of her life so if she isnt taken too far back from the draw i can see her flying through at the end and maybe just knocking off a three year old or three.

SUMMARY
Of course the three year olds hold the advantage here with Good Line and Eastern Sky looking good but the older fillies and mares wont go down without a fight and this is going to be a close finish. Devils Wears Prada and Duracell looks good bets but with probably a length covering eight runners its too tough to call the finishing order.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES