Diana Could be Key to Beverly D

This year, thanks to the stakes scheduling gods, talented fillies and mares who wish to attempt both the Grade I $500,000 Diana Stakes and the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. can now do so with a more satisfactory four-week aperture between the events, instead of the unfashionable three weeks it has been over the last few years. With Grade I winners Emollient, Discreet Marc, Alterite, Stephanie’s Kitten and Tannery all penciled in as part of the 10-horse field, the Diana is the best domestic race for turf fillies and mares thus far in 2014 and should prove as the most complex Beverly D. prep for those endeavoring to the Midwest four weeks later.

After this weekend, the Diana will join a list of quality filly and mare turf preps for the Beverly D., including last weekend’s course and distance trial, the Grade III $200,000 Modesty Handicap.  With the first three finishers automatically earning a berth in the Beverly D., it looks as if we could very well see the trio of Hit the Board Stable’s winning I’m Already Sexy, Glen Hill Farm’s runner up Gulsary and Elm Racing’s Street of Gold return for round two at the Chicagoland oval on Aug. 16.

The winner, in particular, would be an interesting entry in the Beverly D., as she is undefeated in four starts – including two graded stakes – at Arlington and proved on Saturday that she can go the distance.  Trainer Wayne Catalano indicated after the race that if all goes well, he is more than willing to “take on the best” again with the game daughter of Ready’s Image.  In her only Grade I attempt, I’m Already Sexy was sixth – beaten only three lengths – in last year’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland.

Also this past weekend, Europe’s Group I Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse produced an impressive victory from Cheveley Park Stud’s rising star Integral, from the barn of 2013 Beverly D. winning conditioner Sir Michael Stoute.  While Stoute still has James Wigan’s Dank as possible for a repeat attempt at the Beverly D., it would not be a surprise to see Integral make the trip instead.  Perhaps the most intriguing runner in the Falmouth was the most disappointing – Ben Keswick’s Sky Lantern.  A winner of four Group I races in her career, the Bevery D.-nominated Sky Lantern ran fifth behind rival Integral for the second time in as many starts this season.  The gray filly appreciates fast ground and her long strides would presumably revel in the ease of Arlington’s turns if her connections decide to cross the pond.

Keep an eye this Sunday in Ireland on the Group II Kilboy Estates Stakes – the same race Dank used as her final prep last year.  At nine furlongs on a testing course at The Curragh, the Kilboy Estates is an ideal trial for European milers asking the distance question before venturing Stateside, like the reigning champion turf filly did in 2013.

A filly to keep track of domestically is Amerman Racing’s Coffee Clique.  A winner of two straight quality turf mile events, including the Grade I Just a Game on Belmont Day, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro is an undefeated three-for-three in 2014.  The Bryan Lynch trainee was withdrawn from consideration from the Diana because of a muscle pull and may consequently be in prime shape to resurface in the Beverly D.