Hayley Turner became the first female jockey to win the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT) Aug. 18, but she had to work hard to earn it when she rode I'm A Dreamer to hold off the late charge of Marketing Mix at Arlington Park by a nose (VIDEO).
Off at odds of 6-1, I'm A Dreamer settled mid-pack behind early fractions run by Romacaca, who had pace pressure almost immediately from Up and Joviality. They went the quarter in :23.67 and the half in :48.40, and I'm A Dreamer commenced her move from seventh up to sixth through three-quarters in 1:12.54.
As the field turned for home, Romacaca conceeded her lead to Up, who had been right at her flank the whole way. But I'm A Dreamer found herself in perfect position to take over and did so, then was hard-ridden to maintain her advantage over the late-closing Marketing Mix. The final time for 1 3/16 miles was 1:55.29.
"It was a long stretch, but it isn't really—it just felt like it," I'm A Dreamer's trainer David Simcock said. "She quickened up when that closer was coming."
"I can't believe it," said Turner, 28, the top female jockey in the United Kingdom. "Thanks to David Simcock and his team because I haven't had a lot to do with this filly. I always think that when you have a horse with a lot of ability, it makes your job a lot easier. I thought she had a good chance. She had a good attitude before the race."
Marketing Mix, trained by Tom Proctor, had run from seventh on the rail after three-quarters to make her bid after swinging five wide at the eighth pole.
"She ran great, she's a nice filly," said jockey Julien Leparoux. "Maybe the winner got the jump on us, but she ran great."
A 5-year-old daughter of Noverre out of the Sadler's Wells mare Summer Dreams, I'm A Dreamer had never raced in the United States before. With the victory, she earned an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) as part of the World Championships' "Win and You're In" promotion.
Simcock trains the bay runner, bred by Sean Murphy, for owner Andrew Stone. The victory improved her record to 5-1-3 from 14 starts. She has earned $772,731.
I'm A Dreamer paid $14.60, $7.40, and $4.40. Marketing Mix returned $4.60 and $3.40. Joviality paid $5. Kapitale, Upperline, Up, Romacaca, Mystical Star, Stars to Shine, and Aruna completed the order of finish.
Favored Aruna stumbled at the start and never menaced while trailing at the back of the 10-horse field.