GROUP II WINNER LILY POND (IRE) SHIPS FROM IRELAND TO U.S. IN SEARCH OF GRADE I GLORY IN $500,000 BEVERLY D

Aug 09, 2022 Churchill Downs Communications

Westerberg Limited, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith’s recent Group II winner Lily Pond (IRE) will be in search of Grade I glory in her first stateside start in the highly-competitive 32^nd running of the $500,000 Beverly D (Grade I) on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

The 1 1/8-mile Beverly D. will go as Race 5 of 11 on the Arlington Million Day program at 3:01 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m. with the $1 million Arlington Million slated as the finale at 6:25 p.m.

The Beverly D. is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” series. The winning horse will get an automatic berth into the $2 million Filly & Mare Turf (GI), which will be held Nov. 5 at Keeneland Race Course.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Lily Pond had her first training session over the Churchill Downs dirt course Tuesday where she had an easy six-furlong gallop. The daughter of late Coolmore stallion Galileo (IRE) was the half-length winner of the Kilboy Estate Stakes (GII) in her last start at the Curragh. O’Brien and Lily Pond’s ownership team won last year’s Beverly D with Santa Barbara (IRE). Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will have the mount and break from post No. 5

Among the rivals to Lily Pond in the Beverly D. is Susan and John Moore’s five-time graded stakes winner Princess Grace. The seasoned 5-year-old mare by Karakontie (JPN) was victorious in the last two runnings of the $200,000 Dr. James Penny Memorial Stakes (GIII) at Parx. Locally, Princess Grace won the $200,000 Mrs. Revere (GII) in 2020 when it was taken off the grass and run at 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Her other notable graded stakes victories are the $200,000 Yellow Ribbon Handicap (GII) and the $750,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf (GIII). Jockey Florent Geroux will have the mount from post 3.

Another talented mare that entered the Beverly D. is Hunter Valley Farm, Debra O’Connor and Marc Detampel’s $750,000 New York Stakes (GI) runner-up Family Way. The Brendan Walsh trainee was victorious in the $150,000 Orchid (GIII) in April at Gulfstream Park. Family Way has competed at several distances in her 16-race career and four of her five victories have come in races greater than 1 1/8 miles. Tyler Gaffalione will ride from post 2.

Peter M. Brant and Michael B. Tabor’s Beaugay (GIII) winner Rougir (FR) looks to improve upon a fourth-place in the $500,000 Diana (GI) at Saratoga on July 16. The 4-year-old filly is trained by Chad Brown, who has won the Beverly D. a record six times, including five in a row from 2015-19. Manny Franco will ride from post 4.

Here is the complete field for the Beverly D. from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Dalika (GER) (Brian Hernandez Jr., Al Stall Jr); Family Way (Gaffalione, Walsh); Princess Grace (Geroux, Mike Stidham); Rougir (FR) (Franco, Brown); Lily Pond (IRE) (Velazquez, O’Brien).

The Beverly D. will be run in Lane 3 on the Matt Winn Turf Course, 24 feet from the inside rail.