Beverly D (Grade 1) (BC)- $700.000 Purse
AP- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and Three Sixteenths on the Turf
August 13, 2016

It was a good day for three year olds at the Beverly D, as the four three year olds in field captured four of the top five positions in the nine horse field.  The big winner on the day was Mo Ki Missy, a filly once claimed for $16.000 on the day after Christmas.  Under the guidance of Spankys Barn, Mo Ki Missy has gradually improved as the year has gone along and won bigger and better races.  Prior to this race, she won the Grade 2 Dance Smartly Stakes, defeating Shekinah, who won the first race of the day here at AP, the Pucker Up, as she stayed with her age group.  This is a big win for Spankys Barn, who earns their second career Grade 1 victory over their 10-year career.  With continued improvement, there may be more to come thanks to this one.  Aboard the winner was D E Centeno, who also wins the race for the first time.  The time of the race was 1:52.24, making it the second quickest in the stake’s history.  Let’s look more at it!

1st- 9- Mo Ki Missy (15/1)- Our eventual winner from Spankys Barn was the quickest of them all out of the gate, but would back off from the lead and let Lime Dancer have the advantage by the time they hit the start finish line the first time around.  She would drop back about a length, but handled the opening turn so well that she was again even with Lime Dancer by the time they hit the backstretch.  They would match strides over the course of this segment, but then Mo Ki Missy pulled in front as they prepared to move around the final turn, running six furlongs in 1:10.43.   By the end of the turn, and into the top of the stretch, she had done away with Lime Dancer, and it became apparent that the hard charging closer Congratulations, as well as All Eyes Ahead were going to be her biggest challengers, and one can never count out Attraction.  Her lead was a length and a half at this point, running a mile in 1:34.05.  With a furlong to go, she could sense them coming, but D E Centeno and Mo Ki Missy were still in good stride and the time was running out for the challengers.  In the end, she won by a length! Congratulations to the winner, running in a time of 1:52.24!  Mo Ki Missy is a three year old filly by the autogen Moon King and out of the autogen Phace The Musik. She was bred in Texas by Class And Gr as a second quarter two year old.  Spankys Barn picked her up on December 26th last year in a $16.000 maiden claimer.  Congratulations to all the connections!

2nd- 4- Congratulations (8/1)- Today’s runner up from Blushing Meadows opted for a race much like her last effort and started near the rear of the field.  During the backstretch run, she was really the only one in the field who make a concerted push, and had three fillies cleared by the time others, such as All Eyes Ahead, began to make moves of their own.  This allowed Congratulations to make up quite a bit of ground rather quickly and she would only be a length behind Attraction at the top of the stretch.  In the stretch, there was no one better.  She was flying while about five wide, and did everything right.  Mo Ki Missy simply was too far ahead.  Congratulations to Congratulations.

3rd- 1- All Eyes Ahead (5/1)- After winning the two prior graded events here at AP, Mb Stables was looking to continue his streak here and he didn’t get a bad effort.   All Eyes Ahead used her rail position to her advantage as she stalked directly behind the pace setting Lime Dancer.  Cruised nicely along the backstretch, and moved up a little before R J Albarado moved her off the rail as it was becoming evident that she may get boxed in.  Ran a fantastic race in the stretch, being able to hold off Attraction, and that is never an easy task regardless of where Attraction finished.  She simply could not get to Mo Ki Missy, and Congratulations was not going to be denied.

4th- 8- Attraction (3/1)– Looking to follow up her win in the Diana for Mm Racing, Attraction was sharp early as both horses directly on each side of her were also quick out of the gate.  She would stay with them, before backing off about a length as the backstretch run commenced.  Lost a slight amount of ground over the backstretch, but still looked good overall.  All Eyes Ahead became a little aggressive with her in the turn, forcing her down a lane.  While going around the turn and into the stretch, she showed her great never say die stretch desire, but could not get into the top three as she carried four more pounds then those placing above her. Did that make all the difference when sizing them up? Food for thought.

5th- 7- Lime Dancer (6/1)- Making her third start in five weeks, the Drabfantasy filly broke well out of the gate, and battled with Attraction and Mo Ki Missy initially to claim the top spot around the opening turn.  She would continue to lead as they moved into the backstretch, setting the ½ in :47.12.  Conceded the lead to Mo Ki Missy during the backstretch trip, but still seemed to be in good shape moving into the turn.  Could not match up to the others in the stretch, though still held off a handful.

6th- 2- Laffin In Texas (8/1)- The Sanny Village entry was not in a rush early in this race, and had only Last Voyager behind her in the opening moments.  Stayed in the back most of the way, but a nice clear lane soon opened up for her to take advantage of along the rail as they moved toward the exit of the turn.  She could never really pounce on this opportunity, however, and settles for sixth.

7th- 5- Last Voyager (17/1)- She could see them all in front of her early on.  The Canny Lodge filly was content to start at the rear, which has become her recent style.  She’d be seven lengths out as the field moved into the backstretch.  Remained at the back of the field around the turn and into the top of the stretch.  Made a late run to get by a couple.

8th- 3- Altered Skeleton (7/2)- The Australia Wide filly started well initially, but she would be pulled back from contesting the leaders by the time they reached the first turn, and would assume a midpack position about three lengths back.  Unfortunately for the trainer, she would gradually lose ground as the backstretch run continued, and that trend would continue until the end of the race.

9th- 6- Eva The Diva (11/1)- Eva?! What happened?!  Sorry to Our Athletes for my apparent jinxing her.  Got off a decent start, running to the outside of Altered Skeleton about three lengths off the pace while keeping the likes of Attraction in close sight.  Lost quite a bit of ground around the turn, and had nothing for the stretch.

Track: Firm
Time: :47¹  1:10²  1:34   1:52¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 9 – 4 Paid 833.80
$1 Trifecta: 9 – 4 – 1 Paid 1,174.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES