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Royal Highness crowned queen of Beverly D. Monceaux Stable's ROYAL HIGHNESS (Ger) (Monsun) just outdueled South African co-champion Irridescence (SAf) (Caesour) by a head to take Saturday's $750,000 Beverly D. S. (G1) at Arlington Park. With Rene Douglas in the irons, the Christophe Clement mare completed 1 3/16 miles on the good turf in 1:56 3/5 to earn her first Grade 1 tally. As expected, Jennie R. (Awesome Again) blasted to the early lead, setting splits of :24 3/5, :49 4/5 and 1:14. Irridescence tracked comfortably in second, with the distaffers sorting themselves into a nearly single-file procession. Royal Highness was content to canter in sixth until she approached the far turn, when she smoothly began to gain ground along the inside. At the top of the stretch, Irridescence stormed to the front and quickly opened up by daylight. Douglas switched Royal Highness to the outside and closed the gap, but a dogged Irridescence knuckled down for the fight. As hard as she tried, however, the South African globetrotter couldn't keep Royal Highness at bay. In the shadow of the post, Royal Highness had worn her down enough to claim the prize. "Turning for home, I knew I had a big chance," Douglas said. "When I got to the other horse (Irridescence), she would not give up, but I had to finish really, really hard." Sent off as the 9-1 fifth choice in a field of seven, the winner returned $20.40, $9.40 and $5.60. Irridescence gave back $6.60 and $4.40 at 9-2, resulting in a $128 exacta. The 3-1 Lady of Venice (Fr) (Loup Solitaire) closed gamely for third, 2 1/2 lengths adrift of the runner-up, to yield $3.40 and round out the $615.20 trifecta. Citronnade (Lemon Drop Kid), the 2-1 favorite, was a non-threatening fourth after hitting the gate at the start, producing a $1,765.80 superfecta (7-3-4-1). Jennie R. held fifth, trailed by Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) and Lahudood (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]). Royal Highness boosted her bankroll to $987,210 from her 14-4-6-2 line. Originally based in Europe, the bay mare captured the 2005 Prix de Malleret (Fr-G2) and finished runner-up in the Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) and Prix de Royaumont (Fr-G3). Royal Highness didn't collect a trophy in 2006, but she placed in the Prix Ganay (Fr-G1), Vermeille and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational S. (G1) before joining Clement. In her first outing for her new trainer, she was a close second in the Long Island H. (G2) last November. Royal Highness reappeared in The Very One H. (G3) in February at Gulfstream Park and rolled to a commanding, two-length decision, but she was sidelined by a muscle injury for the next five months. The five-year-old came back to just miss in the Robert G. Dick Memorial Breeders' Cup S., which served as her tune-up for the Beverly D. Bred by Gestut Etzean in Germany, Royal Highness was sold for $144,417 as a yearling at the 2003 BBA September Sale. She is out of Reem Dubai (Nashwan), making her a half-sister to Royal Dubai (Dashing Blade), Germany's co-highweight juvenile filly in 2002. This is the family of the ill-fated multiple Group 1 hero and highweight Electrocutionist (Red Ransom); classic-winning highweight Scorpion (Ire) (Montjeu [Ire]), successful in the Coronation Cup S. (Eng-G1) earlier this season; and four-time champion Ardross (Run the Gantlet). By virtue of her win, Royal Highness has earned an automatic berth into the October 27 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Monmouth.
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