Santa Barbara seeking Beverley D win

Ryan Moore is bidding for his third success in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington when Santa Barbara aims to add to her Grade One tally.

A real talking horse in the spring, the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was sent off favourite for both the 1000 Guineas and Oaks, but finished only fourth and fifth respectively behind stablemates Mother Earth and Snowfall.

She was a close second to Thundering Nights in the Pretty Polly before gaining a big-race success on her last trip Stateside in the Belmont Oaks.

Moore won the Beverly D. in successive years on Dank and Euro Charline in 2013 and 2014 and has plenty of respect for the opposition — chiefly Graham Motion’s Mean Mary.

“I’ve been lucky enough to ride the winner of this race on a couple of occasions and in Santa Barbara I think I have a decent chance of making it three,” said Moore.

“Aidan has made no secret of the esteem he holds her in so, after some solid efforts, it was very pleasing to get the Grade One win with her in the Belmont Oaks last month.

“The form of that race was franked when the second and third, Con Lima and Higher Truth, finished first and second in the Saratoga Oaks last Sunday with the Charlie Appleby-trained, Creative Flair back in third.

“Again, the trip and ground should play to my filly’s strengths, but this is a good race and on a form line through the Joseph O’Brien-trained Thundering Nights, we will be up against it with Graham Motion’s Mean Mary (beat Thundering Nights in New York Stakes).

“Having said that, Santa Barbara is improving and will give her usual honest running with conditions to suit.”

Later on the card, which can be seen live on Sky Sports Racing, Moore rides O’Brien’s Armory in the Mr D. Stakes — formerly the Arlington Million — in what appears to be the final renewal of the race with the track about to be sold for redevelopment by Churchill Downs Inc.

The race was first run in 1981 and its changed name honours Arlington chairman emeritus Richard Duchossois, whose 100th birthday is in October.

Armory is one of 10 runners and is clearly fine with travelling having finished second in the Cox Plate last year.

“Armory started the season well with a nice win in the Huxley at Chester over an extended 10 furlongs on soft ground and again acquitted himself well when finishing one and a half lengths behind Love when third in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot,” Moore told Betfair.

“Last time in the York Stakes he had to carry a 3lb penalty for the Chester win and probably came out best at the weights in what was a messy run race.

“He finished last season in Australia, with a good second to Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate, so we know he can take the travel OK.

“In terms of the opposition, the Chad Brown runner, Domestic Spending, has only been beaten once in six starts and is sure to be in good order. I think the 10 furlongs on fast ground around Arlington will suit Armory though, and he should run a big race.”

Richard Fahey’s 2019 Jersey Stakes winner Space Traveller has his first start for Brendan Walsh in the same race but is still owned by Steve Parkin’s Clipper Logistics with Danny Tudhope going over to ride.