European group winners Alnadana and Mad About You challenge top American-based runners Pure Clan, Black Mamba and others in the $750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT).
The companion race for females to the Arlington Million (gr. IT) later on the program, the Beverly D. is contested at 1 3/16 miles on the turf. Eight are entered. The race is part of the "Breeders' Cup Challenge" series, with the winner gaining a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) at Santa Anita Nov. 6.
Winner of the American Oaks (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park last year, Lewis Lakin's Pure Clan captured the Modesty Handicap (g. IIIT) at Arlington in her last start July 11. She seeks to become the first to win the Modesty and the Beverly D. in the same season.
Trained by Bob Holthus, Pure Clan has raced just twice this year, finishing second by a neck to Acoma in the Early Times Mint Julep Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Churchill Downs prior to the Modesty. The 4-year-old daughter of Pure Prize has been in the money in all but one of her 13 career starts (a 10th in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf), with seven wins and earnings of $1,193,998.
Regular rider Julien Leparoux has the call on the 3-1 morning line favorite. The chestnut filly breaks from post 2.
Doubledown Stables' grade I winner Black Mamba ventures from Southern California for the first time since transferring to the U.S. from her native New Zealand in 2007. The remarkably consistent 6-year-old mare has competed in 16 races since then for trainer John Sadler, winning four of them while finishing off the board just once.
Black Mamba completed back-to-back triumphs in Hollywood Park's Beverly Hills Handicap (gr. IIT) with a game head victory in her last start June 28. In 2008, she followed her Beverly Hills win with one in the John C. Mabee Handicap (gr. IT).
Garrett Gomez, who was aboard the late closing daughter of Black Minnaloushe for all three of those wins, has the mount once again. They are 7-2 on the morning line and will break from post 4.
Irish-bred Alnadana, owned by His Highness the Aga Khan, won the Prix Messidor (Fr-III) at Maisons-Laffitte in her last start July 18 for trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre. The 4-year-old daughter of Danehill Dancer has won three of 12 starts, all but one of her races coming in France. Previously, she was a good second after a poor start in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes (Eng-III) at Epsom. Christophe Soumillon travels here to accept the mount.
Irish trainer Dermot Weld, who has enjoyed past success at Arlington, brings Moyglare Stud's Mad About You, a group III victress this spring who placed third in her last start, the Minstrel Stakes (Ire-III). The Irish-bred 4-year-old by Indian Ridge ran second in the Pretty Polly Stakes (Ire-I) last June on a yielding course at the Curragh. Patrick Smullen comes over from Ireland to ride.
Weld won last year’s Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) with Winchester.
Mrs. Alec Head’s Denomination also made the jouney from Europe. The 3-year-old daughter of Smart Strike was third in the Prix Chloe (Fr-III) at Chantilly in her last start. Earlier this year she took top honors in the Prix Vanteaux (Fr-III) at Longchamp. To be ridden by Dominique Boeuf, Denomination is trained by Christiane (Criquette) Head-Maarek, who saddled 1994 Beverly D. winner Hatoof.
Live Oak Plantation's Points of Grace comes off a front-running 2 1/4-length win in Woodbine's Dance Smartly (Can-IIT) on a 'good' course July 11 for trainer Malcolm Pierce. The daughter of Point Given , who will have Ramon Dominguez aboard, has won five of eight starts.
Tizaqueena finished right behind Pure Clan in both the Mint Julep and the Modesty. Prior to that the Darly-owned daughter of Tiznow rattled off four consecutive wins for trainer Michael Stidham, capped by the Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) at Churchill Downs May 2.
Dr. John A. Chandler's Dynaforce won the 10-furlong Flower Bowl Invitational (gr. IT) on a yielding Belmont Park inner course last fall. Trained by Bill Mott, she ran third in the Modesty most recently. Kent Desormeaux rides.
$750,000 Beverly D. Stakes (gr. IT, Race 8, 3:52 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 3/16 MIles (Turf)
PP. Horse, Jockey, Trainer
1. Alnadana (IRE), C Soumillon, A De Royer-Dupre
2. Pure Clan (KY), J R Leparoux, R E Holthus
3. Points of Grace (KY), R A Dominguez, M Pierce
4. Black Mamba (NZ), G K Gomez, J W Sadler
5. Mad About You (IRE), P J Smullen, D K Weld
6. Tizaqueena (KY), E T Baird, M Stidham
7. Dynaforce (KY), K J Desormeaux, W I Mott
8. Denomination (KY), D Boeuf, C Head-Maarek
Each assigned 123 pounds.