Beverly D (Grade 2)- $500.000 Purse
CNL- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Turf
August 9, 2025

The Beverly D is another one of those races that was regularly contested at AP but had to find a new home after the closure of that track. Fortunately, CNL stepped up to allow this race to continue on. This will be the third time that the race has been held at this track, and while the purse is not quite as high as it was at AP, it’s still at an excellent level. One time in the race’s history has the Beverly D been won by the same horse multiple times, and that was Madame Harriet, for Chateau Gill in 2010 and 2011. Last year’s winner, Lady Hilltopper, will be trying to duplicate that achievement as she is one of the five that is entered. Let’s take a run through the field:

1- Always Condottieri (Maletto, ridden by Jam Rodriguez)- This is career start #47 for the seven-year-old mare, with two of them being in the BC. While she has been a regular in this division, the Beverly D is not a race that she has attempted in the past. This is her first graded race since November, and most recently, she was in an open allowance at PRX, placing second to another regular graded participant. She’d love to prove she has one more major win in her.

2- Lille (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by M E Smith)- Making her turf debut here in the Beverly D, but she is no stranger to big races. Last year, she ran in the Cotillion, and that has continued into her four-year-old season. She has had a trainer change, as Mo Mentum Farm claimed her for $100.000 and immediately led her to a runner up in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff to some horse named Lady Sammyantha that you may have heard of, then won the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes. Those are each seven-furlong races, so it is not recent form that’s have Mo Mentum Farm change things up. I trust him, of course, but it would have been nice to have seen a recent turf work.

3- Secured Entry (Mb Stables, ridden by F Prat)- Raced most of her career at low or free tracks, including a stretch of six out of eight for Spinetingling last year and early this year. That’s not easy to do, no matter what you think about free track races, and it caught the attention of Mb Stables. In June, Mb picked her up for $30.000 in private sales and would start her just twelve days later in an optional claimer at WO which was also her turf debut. Placed second there, and now with the trainer getting to know his filly more, he puts her up against some big names.

4- Ginger Lucy (The Sidley Stud, ridden by T Conner)- It’s been over a year now since the last time this mare did not finish in the top four. She’s won twice in her last five starts, highlighted by the Grade 3 Orchid at GP in March. Overall, she has seven wins in 42 appearances, but it can be said that her career lacks that one large, signature win. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with the $165.000 Orchid, but to be able to replace that with the Beverly D is a lot more appealing.

5- Lady Hilltopper (Black N Gold Stable, ridden by R Bejarano)- The defending winner of the race will be the last to load into the gate. Last year’s win was an impressive two length score, and she followed that up by winning the Grade 3, $1,000.000 Ladies Marathon at KD by four lengths. These results made her the post time favorite for the BC Fillies & Mares Turf, though she was only fourth there. No worries about carrying her success into 2025, as she has two wins in five starts this year, including the Grade 1 NY at SAR two back. While she meets up against some worthy foes here, I don’t see a reason to bet against her.

Prediction: 5-1-4-2

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES