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‘Mary’ Meets ‘Barbara’ in Beverly D.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL–For all leading trainer Graham Motion has accomplished in an illustrious career, missing from his resume is a victory in any of Chicago's Grade I events. Alex Campbell, Jr.'s Mean Mary (Scat Daddy) will try to right that wrong as the 9-5 morning-line selection for Saturday's GI Beverly D. S., the first of the afternoon's top-level tests.

A treble graded winner in 2020, the homebred was just run down by champion Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in the GI Diana S. last August and weakened to seventh at 7-2 after setting a demanding pace in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November. The dark bay made her seasonal return with a deceptively easy victory in the GIII Gallorette S. at Pimlico May 15, besting a pair of next-out GSWs in the process, and exits a narrow defense of her title in the GII New York S. June 4 in ground that she may not have relished. Luis Saez has the riding assignment.

Remarkably, trainer Aidan O'Brien has never sent out a winner of the Beverly D., but Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) will be well-backed to rectify that anomaly. Fourth as the favorite to recent G1 Prix Rothschild heroine and stablemate Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas first off a September maiden win, Santa Barbara failed to fire in the G1 Cazoo Oaks June 4, finishing a distant fifth, before bouncing back with a narrow loss against older females in the G1 Pretty Polly S. June 27. She was back on 13 days' rest in the GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. and things looked bleak entering the final eighth of a mile before she exploded late to decision Con Lima (Commissioner) and Higher Truth (Ire), first and second home in last weekend's GIII Saratoga Oaks Invitational S. Santa Barbara gets six pounds from Mean Mary as she tries to join Euro Charline (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) as the only 3-year-old winners of the Beverly D.

If Chad Brown is to win the Beverly D. for the sixth year running, it will be with Lemista (Ire) (Raven's Pass), whose owner Peter Brant campaigned 2018/2019 winner Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}). A two-time group winner in Ireland for Ger Lyons, she rallied into no pace whatsoever to just miss to GISW Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah) in the GIII Beaugay S. on U.S. debut in May. She will try to rebound from a last-of-eight effort in the GI Diana S. July 17 with Flavien Prat at the controls.

Naval Laughter (Midshipman), who broke her maiden by nearly 20 lengths over the synthetic track June 3, most recently belied odds touching 9-1 to upset the course-and-distance GIII Modesty S. July 17 over Joy Epifora (Arg) (Fortify) and Bramble Queen (Silent Name {Jpn}).

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Domestic Spending Leads Home Challenge in Mister D.

Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}), perfect in three starts this term and in six of seven trips to the post in his career, will look to give Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables a second consecutive success in the GI Mister D. S. (formerly Arlington Million) and provide trainer Chad Brown with a record-extending fifth when he faces as many as nine rivals in what is to be the final running (at Arlington Park) of America's first million-dollar race Saturday in suburban Chicago.

A 300,000gns purchase out of the 2018 Tattersalls October Book 1 sale, the bay gelding defeated Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) and Gufo (Declaration of War) in a thrilling renewal of the GI Hollywood Derby last November, then–with Flavien Prat in the irons for the first time–shared the spoils with Colonel Liam (Liam's Map) in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic on the Derby undercard May 1. With a score to settle in the GI Manhattan S. June 5, Domestic Spending threw in a :23 second final quarter to easily best the tactically disadvantaged Gufo to cement his position as this country's leading turf horse. Colonel Liam finished a non-threatening eighth in what has become a key race.

Domestic Spending will try to follow in the hoofprints of 2019 winner and eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar (Giant's Causeway), and there is not much between the two in the estimation of trainer Chad Brown.

“It's not crazy at all to compare him to that horse,” Brown told Mike Kane earlier this week. “Numbers-wise, he's running as fast as any of that top group of turf colts I've had. He's got a lot more to accomplish to be included in that group or to be the head of that group. But, you think about Bricks and Mortar, you think about Flintshire, you think about Beach Patrol, who was a really nice horse who won the Arlington Million and the Secretariat; you think about Big Blue Kitten, who was a multiple Grade I winner and champion. Of course Bricks and Mortar is at the very top of the list.”

In the form of Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Domestic Spending has his most formidable foe to date. A Group 3 winner and twice Group 1-placed at two, the son of MGSP After (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) was successful at Group 3 level and sound runner-up to Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley last October. Victorious in the G2 Huxley S. around tight-turning Chester May 7, he fought on bravely to be a close third to front-running stable companion Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 16 and was most recently beaten 1 1/4 lengths into fourth when carrying 135 pounds and giving weight all around in the G2 York S. July 24. Ryan Moore, in the saddle for three of the colt's five career wins, is back aboard. A victory would be the third for both O'Brien (Powerscourt {GB}, 2005; Cape Blanco {Ire}, 2011) and the late Galileo (Cape Blanco and Mondialiste {Ire}, 2016).

Bizzee Channel (English Channel) sat a perfect trip and slipped through inside of pacesetting Two Emmys (English Channel) to win the GIII Arlington S. July 17, as odds-on Zulu Alpha (Street Cry {Ire}) finished a one-paced fifth. If willing to forgive a first-up effort that arguably looks worse on paper than it really was, the 8-year-old can pick up a minor share. Zulu Alpha gets the services of leading Saratoga rider Luis Saez to boot.

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Turning Point Bloodstock Makes Debut in Saratoga

A new consignment is making its debut this week at the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Sale. Turning Point Bloodstock, founded by New York horsemen Bill Johnson, has 12 yearlings prepared to go through the ring on Aug. 15 and 16.

Johnson has owned and operated Stonegate Stables, located about 15 miles from Saratoga Springs in Fort Edward, since 2007. For the past three years, he has been mentored by bloodstock agent and veteran Fasig-Tipton consignor Harry “Chip” Landry in preparation for going out on his own as a consignment.

“We had a lot of clients from our farm saying they wanted me to do this, so we're giving it a go,” Johnson said. “Our farm has grown pretty dramatically in the past five years. We foaled 52 babies this year, with a good mix of Kentucky-sired horses and New York-sired horses. That's why we have such a big group coming for this sale. Our clients have really stepped up in the game and started breeding at a higher level.”

Johnson said that almost all of the yearlings at his consignment this week were foaled, raised and prepped at his Stonegate Stables, adding that he is excited by the diversity his consignment's first roster has to offer.

“If you have a sire type, we've basically got it,” he said. “If you like them grass or dirt, long or short, tall or small, we've got it here. [Fasig-Tipton Account Executive] Peter Penny has been coming out consistently to see our horses and he's been very useful in gearing us towards what they think buyers are looking for.”

Johnson said that as buyers begin to sift through the catalogue, one of their most popular offerings has been Hip 523, a colt by red-hot young sire Nyquist. The youngster is the first foal out of the winning Honor and Serve mare Pursuing Justice, who is herself a daughter of Grade II winner and stakes producer Seeking the Ante (Seeking the Gold). The family also includes three-time Grade I winner Antespend (Spend a Buck).

“The Nyquist colt has drawn a lot of attention,” Johnson said. “He has a big walk on him and a lot of action in his movement. People in New York are looking to find sires like that here.”

He said another popular yearling from their consignment has been Hip 428. The filly is a daughter of Bolt d'Oro, whose first crop made a major splash at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings Sale earlier in the week. She is also the first foal out of stakes winner Grace's Treasure (Rockport Harbor).

“She is certainly a looker and looks to be very fast,” Johnson said.

Turning Point's inaugural consignment also includes yearlings from first-crop yearling sires Good Samaritan and Always Dreaming, plus additional youngsters by Exaggerator, Tapizar, Cairo Prince, Shackleford, Karakontie (Jpn), Tiznow and Frank Conversation.

Johnson spoke on the plans for his consignment for the rest of the year.

“We're going to sell in Maryland at the [Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Fall] yearling sale in October. I have between 12 and 15 going to that. We'll be coming back to Saratoga for the [Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Fall] sale and we're going to have a big group for that. I think we could end up having between 15 and 20 horses at this point.”

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Doctor Jeff Steps Up in Saratoga Special

Michael Dubb and Michael Caruso's Doctor Jeff (Street Boss), a first-out winner in a six-furlong off-turf maiden special weight at Belmont Park July 10, will step right up to graded company as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in Saturday's GII Saratoga Special S. The chestnut colt earned a Special field-high 78 Beyer Speed Figure for his 2 1/4-length debut win and he has recorded three breezes over the main track at Saratoga, including a bullet five-furlong work in :59.61 Sunday, for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.

“I'm just very happy with the way he's training over here,” Rodriguez said. “He beat some tough horses the first time and he did it the right way. We just take it day-by-day, but he's been training over here for a while. If he doesn't like the track now, he's never going to like it.”

Joel Rosario, aboard for Doctor Jeff's win and the winner of last year's Saratoga Special aboard Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), will have the return call from post eight.

Freshman sire Gun Runner, who was represented by a pair of graded winners last weekend, has two chances to keep the streak going in the Special. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Gunite (Gun Runner) adds blinkers Saturday following a maiden-breaking score going six furlongs in his third lifetime start at Churchill Downs last time out June 26. The dark bay colt hit the board in both previous five-furlong outings in Louisville.

Another Winchell homebred, Red Run (Gun Runner), was a first-out winner over a sloppy Churchill strip May 9 and was a late-closing fifth in the June 26 GIII Bashford Manor S.

Steve Asmussen, who trained champion Gun Runner, also trains both Winchell colorbearers.

“It's extremely exciting. All a part of what makes racing great,” Asmussen said of Gun Runner's fast start at stud. “We're fortunate to have horses like that and then have the chance for them to prove it. It's amazing how he stamps them just with their attitude. Obviously, he gave them a tremendous amount of ability to find more. Winning and losing is usually the amount of effort willing to be applied.”

Phoenix Thoroughbred's Double Thunder (Super Saver) comes into the Special with a perfect two-for-two record. A debut winner going 4 1/2 furlongs at Monmouth Park June 5, the Todd Pletcher trainee closed from well back to score a 4 3/4-length victory in the Bashford Manor.

Pletcher also saddes Repole Stable's Midnight Worker (Outwork), a debut winner over the Special's six-furlong trip at the Spa July 24.

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