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Eclair de Lune captures poignant Beverly D. for Duchossois

Eclair de Lune gave track chairman Richard Duchossois the race he always wanted to win (Four Footed Fotos) Sporting the colors of Arlington Park Chairman Richard L. Duchossois, ECLAIR DE LUNE (Ger) (Marchand de Sable) chose the perfect spot for her first career stakes victory on Saturday -- the race named for her owner's late wife, the $750,000 Beverly D. S. (G1), that he'd always wanted to win. She was likewise handing Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally his first win in this sister race to the Arlington Million (G1), which he had captured with the legendary John Henry (1981, 1984) as well as with champion Tight Spot (1991). "Winning this race means more to me than winning the Kentucky Derby (G1)," the 88-year-old Duchossois said in accepting the Beverly D. trophy from his children and grandchildren. "This is one race I've wanted to win for (Mr. Duchossois)," McAnally said. "He's a first-class man, and I knew he wanted to win this race for his late wife. He's one of the greatest guys and very generous to everyone." Eclair de Lune was also paying a posthumous tribute to the ill-fated Tuscan Evening (Ire), who had just held her off in the local prep, the July 17 Modesty H. (G3). Tuscan Evening would have been a clear-cut favorite in the Beverly D., but she shockingly died following an August 8 workout. In her absence, the contest appeared evenly-matched on paper, and Eclair de Lune was dispatched as a generous 6-1 fourth choice. Ridden once again by Junior Alvarado, Eclair de Lune enjoyed a stalking trip reminiscent of her passage in the Modesty. This time, she drafted in second behind Romacaca (Running Stag) through splits of :24 1/5, :48 4/5 and 1:13 3/5, advanced on the far turn, and easily surged clear in midstretch. Eclair de Lune stamped her authority by 1 1/2 lengths on the wire while finishing 1 3/16 miles on the good ground in 1:56 2/5. The convincing winner returned $14.80, $7.40 and $4.80.

"Same type of race she ran the last time," McAnally observed. "Alvarado rode her last time and he felt he could win with her today."

"I'm very proud to have been given the chance to ride this filly," Alvarado said. "This was a wonderful race for me to win. When I rode her the last time, I knew I could win this race with her because the pace was so slow last time that I had every confidence today."

Hot Cha Cha (Cactus Ridge) took second by a neck from a closing Gypsy's Warning (SAf) (Mogok), paying $5.40 and $3.40 as the 4-1 third choice.

"I had a perfect trip but couldn't catch them," jockey James Graham said of the runner-up. "Plus, she is in season."

Gypsy's Warning, who finished a length clear in third, provided $5.80 to show at 9-1. The exotics totaled $65.40 (exacta), $529.80 (trifecta) and $3,561.20 (6-2-4-8 superfecta) with the 11-1 Romacaca salvaging fourth by a head from Treat Gently (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]). A slow-starting Pachattack (Pulpit), Acoma (Empire Maker), 3-1 favorite Ave (GB) (Danehill Dancer) and Biased (GB) (Haafhd) completed the order of finish. Rainbow View (Dynaformer), the 4-1 morning-line favorite, was withdrawn because of a tendon injury.

Eclair de Lune nearly quintupled her bankroll to $548,014 from her 10-3-2-1 line. Originally trained in France by Yves de Nicolay, the bay won two of her first three starts, but found the 2009 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1) too much, too soon, and wound up eighth. She concluded her French career with a close third in the Prix de la Nonette (Fr-G3) last August. Purchased for $364,350 at the Arqana Arc Sale last fall, Eclair de Lune made her American debut at Santa Anita in March, finishing fourth in an allowance/optional claimer. After she checked in fourth behind Tuscan Evening in the April 17 Santa Barbara H. (G2), McAnallly freshened her and pointed for the Beverly D. His plan worked perfectly, for the Modesty served as her stepping stone to a memorable triumph at Arlington.

Bred in Germany by T. Kohler, Eclair de Lune is out of the winning Acatenango mare Elegante. She hails from a productive German family whose notables include multiple Group 1-winning highweight and dual German classic winner Elle Danzig (Roi Danzig), highweight stayers Elsurimo (Surumu) and El Tango (Acatenango), and Group 1 victor Ebano (Tanerko).

Eclair de Lune was the first half of an ironic classical music double on Saturday. Her name echoes the famous piece "Clair de Lune," composed by none other than Claude Debussy -- the namesake of the colt who won the Arlington Million one race later.

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