Her second trip over an American turf course was her second winning one as Santa Barbara won the Grade1 Beverly D at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill. on Arlington Million Day. After a less-than-ideal trip in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks, where she was boxed in early, jockey Ryan Moore was able to find more running room in the Beverly D, sitting behind leader Mean Mary throughout before moving to the outside on the final turn and sprinting to the lead in the stretch to win by four lengths.
With Bramble Queen and Oh So Terrible both scratched, the field for the Grade 1 turf stakes was down to five, with Mean Mary breaking from the inside and Santa Barbara from the middle of the pack. The field got away cleanly after Mean Mary broke through the gate prematurely and was then reloaded with no trouble. Luis Saez moved Mean Mary out to the lead in the first quarter with Naval Laughter a half length behind her on the outside. Moore kept Santa Barbara running easily on the rail in third, as Mean Mary logged a first quarter in :24.57 and a half-mile in :49.31.
Naval Laughter challenged Mean Mary's lead briefly going into the final turn of the 1 3/16 mile Beverly D, pulling even with Mean Mary as Moore moved Santa Barbara away from the rail. On the final turn, Santa Barbara was two wide, making her move on the outside of Mean Mary and Naval Laughter. Into the stretch, Santa Barbara easily took over the lead, drawing away from the field under a hand ride from Moore as Lemista sprinted through the stretch, almost catching Mean Mary at the wire. Joy Epifora and Naval Laughter rounded out the short field.
The final time for the G1 Beverly D was 1:54.55. Find this race's chart here.
Santa Barbara paid $4.00, $2.20. and $2.10. Mean Mary paid $2.40 and $2.10. Lemista paid $2.20.
“She was always a filly I had a high opinion of,” winning rider Moore said to Arlington Park's Vince Greco after the race. “She was very comfortable through the race. Very straightforward today.”
Bred in Ireland by Whisperview Trading Ltd., Santa Barbara is by British sire Camelot out of the Danehill mare Senta's Dream (GB). Owned by Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerburg, the 3-year-old filly is trained by Aidan O'Brien. With her win in the G1 Beverly D, Santa Barbara has three wins in six lifetime starts for career winnings of $731,612.
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