Snow Polina, ridden by Jerry Bailey, wins the Grade I $500,000 Beverly D. at Arlington International Racecourse.

Snow Polina, ridden by Jerry Bailey, wins the Grade I $500,000 Beverly D. at Arlington International Racecourse.

Associated Press/NYRA, Benoit

Snow Polina Edges Happyanunoit in Beverly D.

Gary A. Tanaka's Snow Polina rallied from just off the pace to upset 3-5 favorite Happyanunoit by a length in the $500,000 Beverly D Stakes (gr. IT) Saturday at Arlington International. Happyanunoit finished second, a nose ahead of Country Garden.

On the yielding turf course, Neil Drysdale trainee Elegant Ridge led early before Wild Heart Dancing moved to the front as the tightly bunched field crossed under the wire for the first time. Wild Heart Dancing continued in front around the turn and onto the backstretch before Elegant Ridge regained the lead while racing along the rail. Elegant Ridge continued to lead by a length after six furlongs run in 1:14.18. Snow Polina swept to the lead as they raced into the stretch with Happyanunoit beginning to move while in tight quarters. As Happyanunoit and Country Garden closed determinedly, Snow Polina had enough left to hold them both at bay, completing the 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.87. Diamond White finished fourth, followed by Only to You, Alluring, Wade For Me, Elegant Ridge, America, and Wild Heart Dancing.

For Snow Polina the Beverly D marks her third consecutive race on a turf course listed as less than firm. After a brief freshening following her win in the Black Helen Handicap (gr. IIT) in April at Gulfstream Park, she finished third over good turf in the Just A Game Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. IIIT) in June, and second in the New York Handicap (gr. IIT) on soft turf at Belmont Park last month. Both of the latter races were won by Perfect Sting.

Snow Polina (Trempolino--Snow House, by Vacarme) is a 5-year-old mare trained by Bill Mott. She was bred in Kentucky by SC La Clauzade Agriculture. Snow Polina earned $300,000 for the win, her 10th in 18 career races. She returned $11, $3.20, and $3. The winning exacta combination was worth $24.40.

"Our mare happened to be extremely relaxed," said trainer Bill Mott. "She was very good in preliminary warmups. In the past she had been getting excited and sweaty on the way to the gate. Today she was calm, happy and left the gate relaxed."