Beverly D – Grade II [BC]
CNL Race #2 1 3/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

1 Swam Pass TwinTowersRacing Bejarano R 124 —

You wouldn’t get to see this sort of entry too much in real life but here at HRP it is pretty common as this five-year-old comes here off the back of a couple of sprint races. The winner of just three from twenty-two, she is typical of the sort from the stable as she comes to a race as a real trier but without an obvious form chance. The last time she tackled this sort of trip was in the Orchid where she finished a long last but whilst that run was pretty awful, I wouldn’t judge her chances on that run alone. Third in the Cardinal at the end of last season is probably a fairer reflection of her ability and whilst that still may not be winning form it does put her in the race for the minor money.

2 All By Myself TwinTowersRacing Beschizza A 124 —

Well, the stable mate may be a hail mary sort of entry this one certainly isn’t as the winner over $1,000.000 she is a tough seven-year-old with plenty of ability. Rarely running a bad race, she won The Bewitch back in April showing that in her advancing years she is still ready for the big races and her two efforts since have been right on the money. This is a real tough individual and whilst her name may not be at the top of her division, she is good enough to worry any of them that are.

3 Villeneuve Mo Mentum Farm Lopez P 124 —

Her last three races have all been on off tracks so the form may not be that reliable, but she has handled them well enough for a second in the grade one Just A Game the time before last. Back on turf after a stint on the dirt she, very much like All By Myself, is a tough mare who always runs well. That consistent record was blotted a little last time out in the Nassau but as I said wet track form is a bit of a lottery so I wouldn’t judge her on that. Certainly, good enough to win at her best.

4 Wild Cats Smokey Stover Hernandez R M 124 —

A seven-race winner, so it is hard to say she hasn’t reached her potential yet, but I do feel this one has been given more time to develop after a fairly average effort in the American Oaks. Three wins in a row suggest that tactic is paying off and now she comes back to stakes level it will be interesting to see where that boost in confidence has taken her. Two from two on the wet, the rain will certainly not bother her.

5 November Storm Mb Stables Gaffalione T 124 —

A very good four-year-old I feel her form would read better if closers weren’t given such a tough time on this race engine. She got the timing right in a small field in the Sheepshead Bay and that may be a key race as to her chances today. On paper I feel she is the outstanding choice, but she will need to find the gaps and the timing to justify my confidence in her as a pick.

6 Lady Hilltopper Black N Gold Stable Pennington F 124 —

Running styles again are the issue for this top-class mare but the small field will help her, and she must be the main danger to November Storm. The winner of the Hillsborough as a deep closer, she ran much closer to the pace in the grade one Gamely and proved she was able to do that with a neck second. The key will be where she lands from the outside draw but she is very classy and has promised more than once to rise to the top of her division so I could see her winning today.

SUMMARY

It is between November Storm and Lady Hilltopper in my books, but both have to deal with running styles that are tough to win with consistently. My head says Mb Stables, big purse, that horse will win but my heart says Lady Hilltopper could beat her by getting first run on her, it is a good race even with a small field.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES