Second American Grade One for Santa Barbara

Aidan O’Brien’s Santa Barbara produced a top-class performance to win the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington Park on Saturday night.

Talked of in glowing terms by her Ballydoyle trainer before the 1000 Guineas, she was beaten in the Newmarket Classic and the Oaks, before just missing out in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh.

The daughter of Camelot went to America after that for the Belmont Oaks, where she showed a sparkling turn of foot to win after looking to be in a spot of trouble.

But there was never a moment of concern in this latest Grade One victory, with Ryan Moore happy to sit in third place as market rival Mean Mary took the five runners along.

Moore moved up smoothly rounding the home turn, and once he asked her to quicken the race was as good as over as his mount stretched clear under just a hand ride.

Mean Mary stuck to her guns to edge the former Ger Lyons-trained Lemista for second.

It was a third win in the race for Moore, after Dank for Sir Michael Stoute in 2013 and Euro Charline for Marco Botti a year later.

Interviewed on the TwinSpires (@TwinSpires) Twitter feed after the race, Moore said: “She was very comfortable throughout and she’s backed up her good win at Belmont. I’m very happy with what she’s done here today.

“She’s got a lot of ability and hopefully she’s still progressing. I don’t know what the plans will be, but I’d imagine all being well she’ll be looking towards the Breeders’ Cup perhaps.”

It is highly likely that this will have been the last big day at Arlington, with the track about to be sold for redevelopment by Churchill Downs Inc.

Moore added: “It’s a beautiful racetrack and beautiful turf track, it’s arguably the best turf course in North America — here and Belmont are probably the best two turf courses.

“This racetrack has done a lot for international racing and played its part in making the sport more global.

“It’s great to be here today anyway.”

There was a major upset in the Mr D. Stakes, as the race formerly known as the Arlington Million went to all-the-way winner Two Emmys, with red-hot favourite Domestic Spending charging home but unable to bridge the gap.

O’Brien’s Armory could not land a serious blow, although he was not disgraced in sixth place, while the former Richard Fahey-trained Space Traveller finished well on his American bow for Brendan Walsh to take fourth under Danny Tudhope.