Arlington International Racecourse Barn Notes: Friday, July 21

By Bailey Gallison —-

• Block Considering Beverly D. for Prado’s Sweet Ride
• Deauville Possible for Return to Arlington Million

BLOCK CONSIDERING BEVERLY D. FOR PRADO’S SWEET RIDE

Darrell and Sadie Brommer’s homebred Prado’s Sweet Ride, second in the Grade III Modesty Handicap at Arlington International Racecourse earlier this month, is under consideration for the Grade I Beverly D. on Aug. 12 according to trainer Chris Block. The 5-year-old daughter of Fort Prado finished a length behind winner Dona Bruja (ARG) in the July 8 Modesty after a ground-saving run along the rail and a strong finish under jockey C. H. Marquez, Jr. in the final furlongs of the 1 3/16-miles trip. With her finish in the top three, Prado’s Sweet Ride earned entry with starting fees waived into the Beverly D., which is also a “Win and You’re In” event for the Grade I $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

“We had confidence that she could handle the distance,” said Block. “Even a little further might be okay.”

Prado’s Sweet Ride was making her first start at a distance longer than 1 1/16 miles in almost two years. As a 3-year-old the Illinois-bred won the Grade III Regret Stakes at Churchill Downs going 1 1/8 miles, followed by a close third-place finish in the Grade III Pucker Up Stakes going the same distance at Arlington. The Block trainee also holds two wins at a mile, and more recently won the New Orleans Ladies Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots at 1 1/16 miles on April 1. All six of her lifetime wins have come on the turf.

“We’ll see who comes,” said Block. “If we think we can run as good as third, we’ll give it a shot. If there are four or five very nice fillies that come, we may pass.”

DEAUVILLE POSSIBLE FOR RETURN TO ARLINGTON MILLION

Following a close defeat at Leopardstown yesterday in the Group III Icon Meld Stakes, trainer Aidan O’Brien expressed his desire to return Deauville (IRE) to Arlington International Racecourse to contest the Grade I Arlington Million on Aug. 12. Following his win last year in the Grade I Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes at Belmont Park, O’Brien opted to start his then sophomore in the Million instead of the Secretariat Stakes, and was rewarded with a third-place finish in the Million just a half-length behind winner Mondialiste (IRE). After a lengthy freshening, the 4-year-old son of Galileo returned in March to finish seventh in the Grade I Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse before going on to hit the board in his five Group stakes in Europe since.

O’Brien remarked post-race the colt’s preference for a fast and hard surface caused them to bypass a start at Ascot in the Summer Mile, which had come up too soft, but the need for a prep race prior to the Million led them to run over good ground at Leopardstown despite rain the day prior Traveling 1 1/8 miles in the Meld Stakes under Donnacha O’Brien, the colt led at every point until being taken on in the stretch by Godolphin’s Moonlight Magic, who managed to get his head in front in the final strides to the wire.

O’Brien has previously started eight horses in the Arlington Million, finding victory twice with Powerscourt in 2004 and Cape Blanco in 2011. The famed Irish trainer finished second in 2014 with Magician, and earned a third with Mount Nelson in 2008 in addition to Deauville.