Amazing Maria Possible for Beverly D

The only filly who could possibly commandeer favoritism from Team Valor International’s defending champion EURO CHARLINE has now thrown her bonnet into the Grade I Beverly D. ring. Sir Robert Ogden’s homebred 4-year-old grey flash of a filly AMAZING MARIA has been nothing short of excellent in her last two starts and now looks to Arlington and its rich $700,000 purse as a possible option.

Trained by David O’Meara, the daughter of Mastercraftsman shocked many when taking the Group II Duke of Cambridge over multiple Group I winner Rizeena at Royal Ascot in June – a race over a testing mile considered by many to be as tough as any Group I for fillies and mares in Europe. Next out, she decisively bested none other than Euro Charline, dual French classic winner (and Beverly D. nominee) AVENIR CERTAIN and classic-placed favorite Lucida when taking the Group I Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket by a length. The win was her second in a row under James Doyle, who seems to have this peaking filly’s number.

While it is more likely that Jean-Claude Rouget-trained (who has multiple possible runners for the International Festival of Racing) Avenir Certain will race next at Deauville in lieu of Arlington, she cannot yet be counted out of the Beverly D., as she has done her best running at distances beyond the mile of the Falmouth, is nominated and can handle fast ground.

Others from Europe still under consideration for the Beverly D. are German Group I-placed LACY, multiple Group II winner CLADOCERA, four-time Group I-placed SECRET GESTURE, Group III winner (over the boys last out) CARLA BIANCA and Listed winner MUTATIS MUTANDIS.

The final prep in the United States for the Beverly D. is the Grade I Diana Stakes at Saratoga this weekend. Last year the Spa feature produced multiple runners for the Beverly D., but this year it is one week closer on the calendar and may be less likely to repeat that scenario. Headlined by Grade I winners Tepin, Hard Not to Like and STEPHANIE’S KITTEN, it seems still that the most likely to wheel back in three weeks to Arlington would be Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Breeders’ Cup-winning three-time Grade I victress Stephanie’s Kitten. Second last year in the Beverly D., she excels at turf distances between 1 1/8 miles and 1¼ miles and her top performance arguably makes her the best older turf mare in the country.

Source: Arlington Park