Watsdachances Moved Up into Beverly D. Victory
The 26th running of the $700,000 Beverly D. would add another chapter of controversy to Arlington Million day history, as Secret Gesture who crossed the line first, was disqualified for impeding the run, and eventually costing a placing of the 3rd place finisher, Stephanie’s Kitten, in return giving the second place finisher Watsdachances the victory for trainer Chad Brown and jockey Joe Bravo.
The disqualification in the Beverly D. adds another brutal chapter to jockey Jamie Spencer’s Chicago history book. Flashes of the 2004 Arlington Million and Powerscourt had to be running through his mind. Powerscourt crossed the finish line first in 2004 but was disqualified and placed 4th for interference in the stretch which gave the win to Kicken Kris. Several disqualifications have been made in the history of the Arlington Million day card, including 2003, when Stormin Home spooked just feet away from the wire while unseating jockey Gary Stevens who amazingly held on to the reigns across the wire before falling, second place finisher Sulamani was awarded the victory. More recently, The Apache was also disqualified in the Arlington Million of 2013.
After an uneventful start to the day, the weather changed, as did the luck of some of the connections. The clouds rolled in and the Chicago skies opened up over Arlington Park. The track was deluged with rain, and the turf condition would be listed as yielding for the group of fillies and mares in the Beverly D.
Defending Beverly D. Champion Euro Charline broke running for Jose Lezcano, quickly establishing the lead through a half mile in 47.67. Secret Gesture and Jamie Spencer stalked last year’s winner around the track sitting comfortably in second some 2 lengths back. As they reached the top of the stretch Euro Charline looked for the repeat, as she spurted two lengths clear, Spencer laid the muscle down on Secret Gesture who made ground up quickly as she surged to the lead late in the race. Stephanie’s Kitten made a strong move on the outside as she began to close ground.
Spencer went to the left handed stick on Secret Gesture deep in the stretch, as she began to drift paths to the outside, Irad Ortiz Jr. jockey of Stephanie’s Kitten, had to check up a few strides before the wire, allowing the late closing Watsdachances, under Joe Bravo, to rally from 15 lengths back to finish second. Secret Gesture crossed the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Watsdachances who was a neck in front of the troubled 3rd place finisher Stephanie’s Kitten. Secret Gesture finished the mile and three sixteenth’s race in a time of 1:57.36.
An inquiry into the race was followed by a jockey objection by Ortiz against the eventual winner Secret Gesture and Jamie Spencer. After a long deliberation, Secret Gesture was disqualified and placed 3rd behind Stephanie’s Kitten. The disqualification gave trainer Chad Brown a 1-2 finish in the Beverly D.
Jockey Joe Bravo rider of the properly named, Watsdachances was very candid after the race, “You can’t make this game up: with the rainstorm we got, they had her ready to run and she just loved the distance."
Ortiz, rider of eventual second place finisher, Stephanie’s Kitten said, “The winner kept coming out and it definitely cost me 2nd."
Watsdachances paid $19.80 to win, $7.20 to place, and $5.20 to the show. A frustrated Jamie Spencer refused comment after the race.