Beverly D.

Saturday's $750,000 Beverly D. S. (G1) will establish divisional leadership

among the turf distaffers, with FILM MAKER (Dynaformer), GORELLA (Fr) (Grape

Tree Road [GB]) and HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval) all set for a terrific clash

of the titans. Eight other fillies and mares will also take part in the 1

3/16-mile affair, but these three leading lights will likely round out the

trifecta.

As tough as it is to separate them, we'll give the edge to Film Maker, who's

ranked among the elite grass performers for the past few years. In addition to

winning the 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup S. (G1) at Keeneland, the

Graham Motion mare has placed in the last two runnings of the Breeders' Cup

Filly & Mare Turf (G1), beaten only by the incomparable Ouija Board (GB) (Cape

Cross [Ire]) and last year's champion, Intercontinental (GB). Film Maker has

romped home in her last two starts -- the La Prevoyante H. (G2) at Calder in her

2005 finale and most recently the June 24 All Along Breeders' Cup S. (G3) at

Colonial Downs in her seasonal bow, posting a 107 BRIS Late Pace rating. She's

drawn wide in the 11 post, but that could actually work to her benefit, as

she'll secure a tracking position in the clear and probably won't get bottled up

in traffic. The dark bay will love the distance and should swoop in the stretch

beneath a returning Ramon Dominguez. At 4-1 on the morning line, Film Maker

represents good value.

Gorella is stepping up in trip here, but judging by her ability to relax

early and fly home late, the extra half-furlong won't be a problem. She has won

both of her starts against her own sex this season, kicking off her campaign by

easily accounting for a Keeneland allowance field. Last time out, she rallied

from a seemingly hopeless position to get up by a cozy neck in the Just a Game

H. (G2) at Belmont Park, racking up an astronomical 113 Late Pace figure. The

Patrick Biancone trainee's only loss this year was a fifth versus males in the

Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1), when she lacked running room in the stretch.

Note that the top two finishers in that event, English Channel (Smart Strike)

and Cacique (Ire) (Danehill), are racing in the Arlington Million (G1) on the

same card. Gorella first proved her world class credentials against males in

2005, turning in a creditable runner-up effort in the Prix du Moulin de

Longchamp (Fr-G1) and finishing a close but troubled third in the Breeders' Cup

Mile (G1). If the chestnut produces anything like her typical late kick, she

will go very close as the 5-2 morning line favorite. Our only concern is that

she's got the rail, and with her patented, come from behind style in a bulky

field, she may not get a clear run. Hot apprentice Julien Leparoux will do his

utmost to find the gaps.

Last year's E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) winner, Honey Ryder, is better than ever

at the age of five, and the Todd Pletcher-trained gray is riding a three-stakes

winning streak. After capturing her second straight Orchid H. (G3) at Gulfstream

Park, earning a 111 Speed rating, she ground out a score in the Sheepshead Bay

H. (G2) at Belmont and successfully defended her title in the Robert G. Dick

Memorial Breeders' Cup S. at Delaware Park. Honey Ryder is a high class

campaigner, but all of her most notable triumphs have come at distances of 1 1/4

miles and beyond. While she'll maintain her relentless momentum all the way to

the line, she may not have the brilliant acceleration that the top two have, and

that could cost her the victory here.

If anyone is capable of cracking the top three at a price, it could be

Claiborne Farm's homebred WEND (Pulpit), who projects a forwardly placed trip.

The Bill Mott mare was sixth in the 2005 Beverly D., but that was contested on

yielding ground that she hates. The bay has strong form on firm turf, most

notably winning the Jenny Wiley S. (G2) and Honey Fox H. (G3) (defeating Honey

Ryder) earlier this year as well as the 2005 New York H. (G2) (defeating Film

Maker). Moreover, she finished like a proverbial freight train for second behind

Intercontinental in last October's Galaxy S. (G2) at Keeneland. She's

disappointed with unplaced finishes in her last two starts, however, and the key

question is which Wend will show up. If she returns to her best, her 10-1

morning line odds will look like a gift.

Three-year-old RISING CROSS (GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]) has shipped in from the

English stable of John Best. Her European form is respectable, with placings in

the Epsom (Eng-G1) and Irish Oaks (Ire-G1) to go along with her dead-heat win in

the Lupe S. She was especially brave in the Oaks at Epsom, where she recovered

after stumbling noticeably in midstretch. Rising Cross is facing a tough task in

this spot, but with her six-pound break in the weights (117) and first-time

Lasix, she's eligible to complete the superfecta. Another with exotics potential

is LIVE LIFE (Fr) (Linamix), representing Neil Drysdale. The gray was a valiant

second in the Beverly Hills H. (G2) after racing too close to a brutal early

pace, and the speedy filly lost all chance when breaking poorly in the John C.

Mabee H. (G1) last time out. She'll probably have company on the front end here

as she faces the ultimate class test, but she could stick on well enough for

fourth.

RICH IN SPIRIT (Repriced) is an admirable performer at the Grade 3 level

who's in great form at present, but she'll need a career best to be involved at

the finish. The Tom Proctor filly did break her maiden over this course in 2004.

ROYAL COPENHAGEN (Fr) (Inchinor [GB]) also claims a win on the Arlington turf,

having garnered last September's Pucker Up S. (G3). The bad news is that she

hasn't won in five subsequent starts. CHIC DANCER (Joyeux Danseur) loves

Arlington, boasting a 10-6-1-1 mark over the course, including a win at this

distance in the Modesty H. (G3) last time out. Still, this is a totally

different ball game.

SHARP LISA (Dixieland Band), a Grade 1 winner on the main track, switched to

the turf this spring and scored an opportunistic victory in the Santa Barbara H.

(G2), going wire to wire in slow fractions and just barely hanging on by a nose.

She was then well beaten in the Gamely Breeders' Cup S. (G1) two starts back,

and this spot is considerably tougher than that. MINGE COVE (Sandpit [Brz]) has

yet to win a graded stakes of any kind and looks up against it here.