By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_Keelerman
Racing fans bid farewell to Arlington Park after the 2021 race meets, but Arlington’s most prestigious races – the Arlington Million (G1) and Beverly DS (G1) – are still living at Churchill Downs.
Churchill Downs usually don’t run in August, but a rare (possibly unprecedented?) exception will be made on Saturday to match the run of the Arlington Million and Beverly D. The Million has attracted larger field, but we’ll focus our attention on Beverly D., which is shaping up to be one of the weekend’s hottest races.
The Beverly D. field has historically been contested for more than 1 3/16 miles, but because Churchill Downs turf couldn’t accommodate that distance, the first renovation to Louisville’s famous oval was shortened. down to 1 1/8 mile.
The result is a small but competitive field of five. Many people bet in favor #4 Rougir (2-1), and understandably so. The four-year-old won the prestigious Prix de l’Opera (G1) more than 1 1/4 miles away in France last fall and kicked off her 2022 season on a high note, dominating the Beaugay S. (G3) at Belmont Park in the first start for coach Chad Brown.
Brown has won half a dozen Beverly D. winners, including five consecutive editions from 2015 to 2019. But Rougir isn’t necessarily as formidable as some of Brown’s previous winners. She was beaten in fifth place when heavily prioritized to win 1 1/4 mile New York S. (G1) two back starts, and while the slow pace could have affected her Her chance, Rougir then dropped to fourth place even at a faster pace to chase Diana S. (G1) 1/8 mile in Saratoga.
Rougir has met a tough company in both New York and Diana and is facing an easier set of opponents in Beverly D. But after two consecutive starts she’s been unable to deliver her A-game , Rougir doesn’t look like an undefeated favorite at Churchill Downs.
#2 Family in a way (3-1) is a reasonable alternative after placing second in New York, only beaten half length by the talented Bleecker Street. This effort followed the Orchid S. (G3) 1/2 mile win and runner-up finish behind the flagship turf router War Like Goddess in the 1/2 mile Bewitch S. (G3) ).
But Family Way isn’t without her armor. She’s benefited from New York’s pedestrian speed tracking and is still preferred by the deeply closed Bleecker Street. And while she won the 1/8 mile option claim at Churchill Downs in the spring of 2021, Family Way has done her best work of running 1 1/4 mile or dad, so reduce the distance for Beverly D . is a question mark.
Instead, the European racer
# 5 Lily Pond (5-2) make a call. Galileo’s three-year-old daughter was coached by the internationally renowned Aidan O’Brien, who mentored second-year Santa Barbara champion Beverly D.
After taking her first win on the synthetic track at Dundalk in the spring, Lily Pond showed promise in a few starts against the group’s holdings, finishing second in the Blue Wind S. (G3) ) 1/4 mile and third in the 1 1/2 mile Munster Oaks (G3). The 1 3/4 mile effort for Stanerra S. (G3) produced a false result as Lily Pond finished sixth by long distance, but was cut back on the 1/ 8 km Kilboy Estate S. (G2) in Curragh last month proved to be the best fit.
Indeed, Lily Pond rebounded brilliantly in the short period, racing forward throughout for a half-length win. Her performance was more than impressive when you consider how Lily Pond is back up and running just 10 days after Stanerra.
After Kilboy Estate, Aidan O’Brien spoke highly of Lily Pond in an interview with Racing TV, referring to a series of big tracks and races that Lily Pond could be coming up with next. In the end, he chose to send her to compete at the Beverly D. Lily Pond was O’Brien’s sole representative for a big weekend and with jockey John Velazquez on the Walk of Fame, I hope the easy improvement will bring a winning performance.
Option
First: Lily Pond
Monday: Rougir
Tuesday: Family in a way
Now it’s your turn! Who do you like in Beverly D.?
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J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, cinematographer, voice actor, amputee, and horse racing enthusiast. A huge fan of racing history, he considers Dr. Fager the greatest racehorse ever made in America, but considers the Zenyatta his all-time favorite.
