2013 Beverly D. Stakes; Marketing Mix Ready To Mow The Lawn

2013 Beverly D. Stakes; Marketing Mix Ready To Mow The Lawn: The 24th running of the 2013 (GI) Beverly D. Stakes is set to take place this Saturday, August 17th at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois and is run at 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs) for fillies and mares 3 years-old and up on the grass. The Beverly D. Stakes is the fillies’ counterpart of the Arlington Million for the boys and is raced on the same turf course. The race carries a purse of $750,000 and is part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge Series. The winner of the 2013 Beverly D. Stakes will automatically have a paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

The race is named for Beverly D. Duchossois, whose husband Richard, has served as the chairman of Arlington Park since 1983. From 2001 to 2006 the winner of the Beverly D. Stakes was bred outside of the United States representing France, Great Britain and South Africa. The last foreign-bred winner came in 2011 with Stacelita from France. The mare Reluctant Guest holds the speed record for this race at 1:53.20 from 1990 and no horse has ever won this race more than once.

The Tom Proctor trained 5 year-old mare Marketing Mix, daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, is looking to hit the lawn again this year in the Beverly D. Stakes and score a win. Last year she was second in the Beverly D. Stakes and also placed second in the 2012 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf race. Last out on July 14th, Marketing Mix beat the boys in the (GIII) Sunset Handicap at Betfair Hollywood Park at 1 ½ miles and used that as a prep for the 2013 Beverly D. Stakes. She seems to dig the Arlington Turf, so if the conditions are good or firm, she’ll be ready to roll. Marketing Mix has 10 lifetime wins in 18 starts with career earnings of $1,869.518. She exits from post #6 with Gary Stevens up for the call.

The James Wigan European filly Dank will be making her (GI) debut here in the 2013 Beverly D. Stakes. Dank has four wins and seven money finishes in nine starts in her career and is coming off a recent win in the (GII) Ireland. Two races prior, she lost to Duntle in the Royal Ascot. Dank seems to prefer a good or firm turf so if the skies are clear, she’ll be knocking on the door. Dank leaves from Post #4 with R.Stout up for the mount.

The William Mott trained Dynaformer daughter Starformer is coming into this race with a first place finish on June 29, 2013 in the New York Stakes (GII) at Belmont at 1 1/4 miles. Starformer won by a length after stalking the pace the entire way taking the lead at the stretch and was the longshot of the race. The 5-year-old mare rebounded in that race after a disappointing 8th place finish in the Sheepshead Bay (GII) on May 25th. Starformer has 6 wins, 2 places and 3 shows in her 17 tries. Starformer will leave from post #7 with Edgar Prado ready to ride.

The other filly I like in the 2013 Beverly D. Stakes with solid appeal, is the fire hot Canadian bred Solid Appeal. She has been burning up the track this year at Woodbine and won her last two (GII)’s in Canada over the Woodbine turf which is similar to the Arlington grass. Bonus is Joel Rosario up in the irons with Solid Appeal and will exit from post #3.

The Beverly D. Stakes should set up to be a very exciting race and I’m going for Marketing Mix for the win. After trying so hard last year, as a 5 year-old I think her form is fantastic and she’s the filly to beat. Behind her in any order I’ll take Dank and Starformer with my long shot gal being Solid Appeal.

Good luck to the ladies and their connections. Go and run your best race!

The 2013 Beverly D. Stakes is one of three graded stakes races here on Saturday and is race 9 on the 10 race card. It will be run with an approximate post time of 5:02 pm CDT.

2013 Beverly D. Stakes Post Positions & Odds
1. La Tia 20/1 K.Desmeraeux/A De la cerda
2. Duntle 3/1 W. Lordan/D. Wachman
3. Solid Appeal 10/1 J.Rosario/R.Baker
4. Dank 7/2 R.L.Moore/S.L.Stoute
5. Gifted Girl 12/1 T.P.Queally/P.F.Cole
6. Marketing Mix 2/1 G.Stevens/T.Proctor
7. Starformer 8/1 E.Prado/W.Mott
8. Artemus Kitten 30/1 R.Napravnik/M.Maker
9. Ausus 10/1 J.Graham/D.C.Peitz
UPDATED RESULTS