Heading the list of European members of the distaff set
expected for the Beverly D. is the South African-bred River Jetez, owned by
Barbara and Cedrick Amm and Marsh Shirtliff, and trained by Michael de Kock.
River Jetez was runner-up – beaten a half-length when facing
male rivals – in the Group I Singapore Airlines International Cup on May 22,
and returned from that layoff to run fifth in Newmarket’s Group I Falmouth
Stakes July 8. That race was at one mile, a distance considered too short
for her best run. Prior to her outing in Singapore, the 8-year old bay
mare finish sixth, beaten less than three lengths for the win, in Hong Kong’s
Group I Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup May 1 against males and was
second, beaten three-quarters of a length when facing members of the opposite
sex, in the Group I Dubai Duty Free at Meydan March 26 on Dubai World Cup Day.
German-bred Royal Mary, owned by Gestut Ittlingen, trained
by Peter Schiergen and most recently fifth in France’s Prix de la Pepiniere at
Maisons-Lafitte July 24, is another probable European-based Beverly D. starter
at this time, as is Godolphin’s Irish-bred Aspectoflove, most recently seventh
in the Group II Emirates NBD Balanchine Stakes at Meydan on Feb. 18.
Irish-bred Barefoot Lady, owned by Helen Steel and trained
by Richard Fahey and most recently third in the Group I Coronation Stakes June
17 during the Royal Ascot meeting, remains a possibility among European Beverly
D. runners, as does the Irish-bred Field Day, owned by Ballymacoll Stud and
fifth in the Group II Windsor Forest Stakes June 15 during Royal Ascot.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish-bred sophomore filly duo of
Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Magnier’s Gemstone and Mrs. John
Magnier’s Look At Me are also under consideration for the Beverly D.
Gemstone was sixth in the Group I Irish Oaks at The Curragh July 17 and Look At
Me was fourth in the Group III Kilboy Estates the same day.
British-bred Dubawi Heights, owned by Neville Callaghan,
Clodagh McStay, M. V. Magnier and Annabell Wyatt and trained by Simon
Callaghan, began her career in Europe but has been based in southern California
since last fall and could be called the long range choice in the Beverly D.
among the American-based fillies and mares.
Although idle since her victory in Hollywood’s Grade I
Gamely Stakes May 30, Dubawi Heights has been working weekly of late, most
recently getting five furlongs in 1:00.60 at Del Mar July 24.
Michael Deegan’s Pachattack, sixth in last summer’s Beverly
D. after dwelling at the start and most recently the winner of the Grade III
Arlington Matron over the local Polytrack May 20, is another somewhat hybrid
European-American expected for the Beverly D. She went a bullet
three-eighths in 35.80 over Arlington’s Polytrack July 27.
Augustin Stable’s British-bred Fantasia, heroine of the
Grade III Modesty Handicap on July 9 as the designed local prep for the Beverly
D. and conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard is also likely for
the Beverly D. as is last year’s German-bred Beverly D. champion Éclair de
Lune, owned by Richard Duchossois and conditioned by Hall of Fame trainer Ron
McAnally.
British-bred Cheetah, owned by Robert Scarborough, won
Delaware Park’s Grade III Robert Dick Memorial July 9 and remains on track for
a start in the Beverly D. She is trained by Christophe Clement, a
three-time winner of the Beverly D.
The Graham Motion-trained pair of Sagamore Farm’s Shared
Account, winner of last fall’s Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at
Churchill Downs, and Lael Stable’s Check the Label, second in the Grade III
Doubledogdare Stakes at Keeneland this spring, are also possibilities for the
Beverly D.
The Chris Block-trained duo of Team Block and Richard Ege’s
Askbut I Won’ttell, a traffic-troubled fourth in the Modesty, and that same
ownership group’s Never Retreat, winner of Woodbine’s Grade II Dance Smartly
Stakes July 10, are also still both under consideration for the Beverly D.
Also under consideration for the Beverly D. is the Mike
Stidham-trained Upperline, owned by Stone Farm, John Adger, Oakcrest Farm and
Stidham. She was the winner of the Grade III Arlington Oaks last year and
recently Woodbine’s $100,000 Trillium Stakes June 25.