Marketing Mix may make amends in the Beverly D - By Tom Krish
Posted on - 17 Aug 2013
Marketing Mix may make amends in the Beverly D
By Tom Krish
Chicago
The Secretariat Stakes, a 2000-metre race on the grass, is a Grade I contest that carries a purse of $500,000. This race, the eighth in Arlington Park’s Million Day card, is for three year-olds and commemorates the memory of Secretariat, the American Triple Crown winner in 1973. Saturday’s renewal marks the 37th running of this event.
Thirteen sophomores will answer the starter’s call in the Secretariat. Jack Milton, from Todd Pletcher’s yard, has been accorded 3-1 morning line favoritism. To be ridden by Joel Rosario, Jack Milton, a son of War Front, has not been worse than third in five career starts. In the Grade II Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs on July 13, Jack Milton was part of a three-way photo.
Admiral Kitten, entrusted to Rosie Napravnik on Saturday, has been the bridesmaid in five 2013 ventures. In the Grade III American Derby on Arlington’s grass course on July 13, the Kitten’s Joy colt, came charging late to miss by a head. Kitten’s Joy is a Secretariat champion. Michael Maker trains AdmiralKitten for Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey.
Edgar Prado will be aboard Rydilluc. A son of Medagliad’Oro, Rydilluc has won four of his last six. He was fourth as the favorite in Keeneland’s Blue Grass Stakes. In his most recent race, Rydilluc, a Gary Contessa trainee, was a disappointing eighth in the Virginia Derby. Rydilluc is capable of elevating game and be in the mix.
First Cornerstone has raced in England, Ireland and France in his last three starts. This will be the fourth country in which the son of Hurricane Run will be competing in as many starts. Hurricane Run won the 2005 Arc De Triomphe with Kieren Fallon. Chris Hayes has the riding call. Does not this name ring a bell?
Gary Stevens will ride Draw Two, a Rock Hard Ten colt. In his only stakes appearance, Draw Two was fourth in the Virginia Derby. Draw Two has two victories in five lifetime races.
If I had a two dollar bet in the Secretariat, it would be on Visiyani. The Aga Khan-owned colt, by Rock Of Gibraltar, has been a model of consistency. The affable Christophe Lemaire, a name fans in India ought to be familiar with, makes the trip from Paris. In his latest race, Visiyani was a winner over a mile on the grass at Maisons Laffitte.
The ninth race in Arlington’s Saturday card is the Grade I Beverly D for fillies and mares. The $750,000 Beverly D is run to honor the memory of the late wife of Richard Duchossois, Chairman of Arlington Park. The 24th running has attracted nine distaffers. The winner of this 1900-metre grass race gets a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly-Mare Turf.
Marketing Mix is the 2-1 favorite. The daughter of Medagliad’Oro has been worse than second only once in the last ten trips postward. Marketing Mix, in her latest race, beat the boys in Hollywood Park’s Grade III Sunset Handicap. She was touched off by Im A Dreamer in the 2012 Beverly D. Gary Stevens rides the Tom Proctor-trained mare. Marketing Mix is owned by Leonard Lavin who gave me the first job I had in America in 1975 in Alberto Culver, a Melrose Park-based company he founded and owned. Unilever bought Alberto Culver recently.
Dank, from Sir Michael Stoute’s barn, is a 7-2 chance. Ryan Moore, the perfect example of a cerebral rider, will be aboard Dank, a four-year-old filly by Dansili. Dank comes off a smart win in the Kilboy Estates Stakes at the Curragh.
Ireland-based David Wachman has a worthy contender in Duntle. The Danehill Dancer filly has won five times from nine career starts. On June 19, at (Royal) Ascot, Duntle beat Dank in a mile contest. On July 28, Duntle chased Elusive Kate in vain in the Prix Rothschild at Deauville, outside Paris. Wayne Lordan, a frontline jockey in the Emerald Isle, will ride Duntle.
Deauville has a glamorous summer meeting and is by the sea. It is the French Saratoga and the American Del Mar. Several high profile races are run at Deauville. There is also a summer sale that has world-wide following.
Ausus has drawn post nine and comes off an easy win in the Grade III Modesty Handicap. The Beverly D represents a step-up but exposure to Arlington’s course should help Ausus’ cause. James Graham rides. Invasor, the sire of Ausus, was the Breeders’ Cup Classic winner at Churchill Downs in 2006. In 2007, Invasor was victorious in the Dubai World Cup. Ausus is a 10-1 chance.
Khalid Abdullah will be represented by the William Mott-trained Starformer. Edgar Prado rides the Dynaformer five year-old mare. Starformer used a win in the Grade II New York Stakes at Belmont Park in late June. A winner of over $500,000, Starformer has giant-killing propensity.
Arlington offers a 50-cent pick four o Million Day. The wager will have a guaranteed $200,000 pool. The four grass races, the Secretariat, the American St Leger, the Beverly D and the Arlington Million will be the four parts of the wager. There will also be a 50-cent pick five. Races eight thru 12 will be the five parts. The takeout will be 15% for the pick five. If you want to pick six winners, then there is the pick six from the sixth thru the 11th race. The $1 pick six has a 15% deduction as well.
Arlington Park is 45 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. It is a smooth drive. Arlington is where Suraj Narredu rode when he was in America in 2011. Suraj brought glory to India with his tremendous riding skills. He had a winner and several in-the-money finishes.
