Arlington Million Day at Arlington Park also features the Grade I Beverly D., a 1 3/16-mile affair for fillies and mares on the turf, and the horse to watch is the impressive Dona Bruja. She left no doubt that she is a potential star after dominating last month’s Grade III Modesty Handicap, going from last to first in the stretch run. As long as she gets an honest pace, the Argentinian mare will be a tough favorite to beat. If her 7-2 morning line odds hold up, she could be a massive overlay as well and a worthy single in multi-race wagers.
Dona Bruja’s main competition may be the three-year-old filly, Rain Goddess, 5-1 on the morning line. The Aidan O’Brien charge finished a game second her last time out in the Group I Darley Irish Oaks, in which she was beaten 5 ½ lengths by the superstar Enable, who defeated open company in the Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot. The King George is one of the most prestigious races in the world and if Rain Goddess can come close to keeping up with the horse that won it, she certainly has what it takes to annex the Beverly D. She may have lost the race at the post-position draw, however. Starting on the far outside in the 10 post may be too much to overcome.
Trainer Chad Brown has entered three of his fillies: Dacita (4-1), Grand Jete (6-1) and Rainha Da Bateria (6-1). None can be overlooked, but Grand Jete may be the most intriguing of the bunch. The four-year-old Juddmonte Farms filly is three-for-three this year, winning as the favorite each time, and Joel Rosario should be able to work out a perfect trip from the no. 5 post position.
Following her strong second-place finish in last month’s Modesty Handicap, the Illinois-bred Prado’s Sweet Ride is sure to receive some strong pari-mutuel backing too. While it was an impressive performance for the Chris Block charge, she sat a perfect pocket trip throughout and saved all the ground that day. At 30-1, she’s certainly worth inclusion in exactas and trifectas, but she’ll probably be an underlay come post-time.
