Beverly D. Musings

First, a quick update on the turf condition: Arlington's lush course has been upgraded to good. The rain I mentioned at the end of my last post was very brief – a light shower that was over within just a few minutes. There is still quite a lot of cloud cover, so we could see more precipitation during the afternoon. Right now, it's a case of so far, so good.

I thought I'd have posted something on PRECIOUS KITTEN (Catienus) by now. After all, she's only the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Beverly D. S. (G1), a half-sister to 2004 turf champion Kitten's Joy (El Prado [Ire]), a Bobby Frankel trainee, who's not only remarkably consistent, but top-class to boot.

Somehow, I managed to miss Precious Kitten during training hours at Arlington. Before leaving Saratoga, however, she had turned in a six-furlong move on the main track in 1:12 3/5 last Sunday. Precious Kitten worked in company with Rampart H. (G2) heroine Spring Waltz (Silver Charm), who posted the same time. Frankel has issued positive bulletins that she has completely recovered from a nasty quarter-crack that cost her quite a bit of training time after her victory in the Gamely S. (G1) on Memorial Day.

Precious Kitten warrants great respect on form, but to succeed in this spot, she'll have to answer two questions: the distance, and the ground. I'm not concerned about the distance, partly because of her pedigree, but especially because of her record. Not only is she a true professional who relaxes well, but she was so commanding in the 1 1/8-mile Gamely at Hollywood Park, that an extra sixteenth of a mile doesn't appear to be a problem at all.

As far as the ground goes, it must be pointed out that all three of her Grade 1 tallies have come on firm turf in California. Precious Kitten has also acquitted herself well back East, but not with the same authority, and has been defeated by the likes of Wait a While (Maria's Mon), My Typhoon (Ire), Vacare (Lear Fan) and Rutherienne (Pulpit). The Arlington turf is certainly in fine shape, but she may just be a trifle better out west.

I definitely do not want to talk anyone out of backing Precious Kitten, for it would be no surprise if she comes up with all the answers, but I felt honor-bound to pose the questions.

It's fascinating that, in addition to her close family tie to 2004 Secretariat S. (G1) hero and 2005 Arlington Million (G1) runner-up Kitten's Joy, Precious Kitten is also a half-sister to the dam of DREAMING OF ANNA (Rahy). In human terms, it's a battle of aunt versus niece. Anna, the niece has looked phenomenally good here, and if the expected pacesetter runs up to her looks, it will take a first-rate performance to reel her in.

I've come up with another reason to toss ROSINKA's (Ire) (Soviet Star) last race, a fading third as the defending champion in the Robert G. Dick Memorial (G3) at Delaware Park. As stated in my earlier blog entry on her paddock visit, she did not settle well in that race. She opened up turning for home, ducked while cocking her head at the top of the stretch, and commenced her retreat.

Rosinka is very talented, but also very tricky, and note that Cornelio Velasquez had never ridden her prior to the Dick Memorial. I believe that the two just didn't hit it off at first, but with that miscue chalked up to experience, and no doubt with further input from trainer Graham Motion, Velasquez will be much better attuned to her. If horse and rider team up more smoothly this time, Rosinka will turn in the type of outstanding effort that she's capable of. Simply put, she is flat-out good enough to win this, if she doesn't sabotage herself.

The key to MAURALAKANA (Fr) (Muhtathir [GB]) is where Kent Desormeaux places her early. When she switches off farther back in the field, the Christophe Clement mare has a wicked late kick, as witnessed most spectacularly in the Sheepshead Bay H. (G2). When she lies a tad closer, she doesn't have the same punch, as evidenced by her determined score in the New York S. (G2) last time out. The New York runner-up, Dynaforce (Dynaformer), came back to finish an excellent second in the Diana S. (G1), giving the form a boost. Mauralakana's preferred running style perfectly fits the historical trends in the Beverly D., which tends to favor deep closers.

At the same time, Mauralakana has landed in an exceptionally tough edition of the Beverly D., and she is definitely taking a class hike in this spot. On the plus side, her 2006 European form is respectable, suggesting that she can hold her own at this level.

MERIBEL (Peaks and Valleys) is a wild card in here. This is the first time she's had the opportunity to race past nine furlongs, and judging by how she ran in her only two attempts at that trip, she's crying out for more ground. A closing fourth in last year's Diana, Meribel produced an eye-catching late run for third in the Canadian S. (Can-G2) at Woodbine. It really goes without saying that this is a quantum leap for her, but it wouldn't be a total shock if she sneaks into the frame.

“She's a classy filly to be around,” said trainer Helen Pitts, who just took over her conditioning prior to her last start. “She'll love the added distance – the further, the better.”

Note that at Churchill last Sunday, the Pitts trainee reeled off a half-mile in :48 4/5, a full second faster than her stablemate, Arlington Million (G1) contender EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck). Without knowing what the game plan was for each, I can't draw too many rash conclusions, but it might be worth noting.

COMMUNIQUE (Smart Strike), a course-and-distance winner of the Modesty H. (G3) last out, is an upwardly mobile sort, and we haven't seen the best of her yet. Of course, I love the fact that she's out of a Pleasant Colony mare.

CIAO (Lear Fan) didn't have the best of trips when third in the Modesty, and with that in mind, trainer Frank Kirby was impressed by her effort. She usually can be relied upon to run well at Arlington, where three starts back, she was a troubled fifth to future Diana heroine Forever Together (Belong to Me).

Kirby noted that Ciao has had a “little trouble over the years with nervousness,” which is why she tends to perform better at her Arlington home.

“She's got a pretty good race in her,” Kirby said. “She's capable, I think, of making a pretty good showing.”

French shipper CICEROLE (Fr) (Barathea [Ire]) must not spot the field a head start at the break. She was slow to begin before rallying for second in the Princess Elizabeth S. (Eng-G3) most recently, and she can't afford to do that here. Interestingly, she's owned by the Rothschild family, who enjoyed success in the 2001 Beverly D. with England's Legend (Fr).

The second member of the Gallic team, TOQUE DE QUEDA (GB) (Dansili [GB]), is exiting a one-paced fourth versus males in the Prix Messidor (Fr-G3). For whatever it's worth, Crossharbour (Zamindar), who beat Arlington Million hopeful SPIRIT ONE (Fr) (Anabaa Blue) last time out, was sixth. I'd be reticent to read a lot into that, since it was a tactical affair with no pace, but I found this tidbit, so I won't keep it to myself.

Here at the track, the sun has started to peer through the clouds at last. A shorter post on the Secretariat will follow...