Charlene’s Dream controls Beverly D; Giocoso cuts corner in Secretariat

Charlene’s Dream ended up as the controlling speed in Saturday’s $501,200 Beverly D. (G2), the sister race to the Arlington Million (G1), and the Texas-bred could not be caught.

Earlier at Colonial Downs, onetime Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful Giocoso rode the rail to a new career high in the $503,600 Secretariat (G2). 

Beverly D. (G2)

Domeyko Taylor LP’s Charlene’s Dream figured to have early company in the form of millionaire Be Your Best, who scratched out of Friday’s Ballston Spa (G2) at Saratoga in favor of this spot. Indeed, Be Your Best initially showed in front, only to concede the lead to a more intent Charlene’s Dream.

Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano’s aggressiveness paid off, as Charlene’s Dream was emboldened on the front end in her biggest test so far. The Ed Moger Jr. mare carved out splits of :23.78, :48.30, and 1:11.63, stalked but not intimidated by Be Your Best.

The top two threatened to turn it into a virtual match race. They scampered well clear of the rest, led by 8-5 favorite Beach Bomb, who’s more accustomed to a slower tempo. Spanish Eyes once again put herself in an unhelpful position with a tardy start, and Duvet Day was unhurried at the rear.

Be Your Best tried to challenge as they swung for home, but Charlene’s Dream repelled her and kept finding more. The daughter of Qurbaan answered any stamina doubt over the 1 3/16-mile trip by widening her margin to 1 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:53.74.

Spanish Eyes flashed home belatedly to grab second, a neck up on Be Your Best, who barely salvaged third by the same margin from the fast-finishing Duvet Day. Beach Bomb wound up fifth, trailed by 61-1 longshot Chick’s Shadow.

Sent off as the 2.60-1 third choice, Charlene’s Dream paid $7.20 while improving her resume to 11-6-2-0, $642,634. The chestnut began her career in Northern California, where she captured the 2023 Pike Place Dancer S. on turf and the Golden Gate Debutante S. on Tapeta. She added the 2024 Horseshoe Indianapolis H. during a limited sophomore campaign. 

In her reappearance in the May 17 Gallorette (G3), Charlene’s Dream aced her graded debut in front-running fashion as an 8-1 shot. She was unable to back up that effort in her ensuing outings at Churchill Downs, placing second in the June 1 Mint Julep (G3) and tiring to fifth in the June 29 Anchorage S., but she found Colonial a happy hunting ground.

Bred by Eric and Randi Moreau-Sipiere in the Lone Star State, Charlene’s Dream sold for just $35,000 as a two-year-old in training at Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic May Sale. Her dam, the War Front mare Clara Kelly, is in turn a granddaughter of Grade 1 winner Lucifer’s Stone.

Secretariat (G2)

Rocker O Ranch’s Giocoso didn’t prosper on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, but the Keith Desormeaux pupil did end up running very well on Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Reverting to his preferred surface for the American Turf (G1), Giocoso rallied for an eye-catching fifth to Zulu Kingdom and Test Score. 

While that form in itself recommended him here, two other factors presaged a better effort at Colonial: the rail post and firm turf. The Not This Time colt benefited by saving every inch of ground, unlike his wide rally at Churchill on a rain-affected course. 

Giocoso was nestled in the wake of front-running Maui Strong through steady fractions of :24.08, :48.59, and 1:12.50. Jockey Ben Curtis stuck to the fence in anticipation of the pacesetter drifting out turning for home, and his plan worked to perfection. Indeed, it was the difference between victory and defeat for the 4.70-1 shot.

As Giocoso cut the corner and exploited the seam, 2-1 favorite Simulate had to close from farther back, widest of all, and he could get no nearer than a length. Giocoso negotiated the mile in 1:35.36 to earn his first stakes laurel, rewarding his loyalists with $11.40.

Simulate outfinished the pace-tracking Antisocial by a head for second. Anegada checked in fourth after traffic, followed by Dream On, Maui Strong, slow-starting End of Romance, and Cairo Caper.

Giocoso’s overall scorecard now stands at 10-3-1-1, $514,971, but all of his wins have come on turf. His lone dirt placing was a third in last fall’s Iroquois (G3). Twelfth when trying dirt again in the Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, he finished a better fifth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) on the Turfway Park Tapeta. Giocoso reiterated his surface preference with his better-than-appears fifth in the American Turf, and broke through in the Secretariat. 

Bred in Kentucky by Breed First, Giocoso was a $75,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase. The dark bay is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Nutcracker Suite, who is herself a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Beauty Bright and a half to Group 1-placed stakes scorer Aloft. This is the further family of such turf notables as Chimes of Freedom, Denon, and Spinning World, as well as champion sprinter Aldebaran and the versatile War of Will, hero of the 2019 Preakness (G1) and 2020 Maker’s Mark Mile (G1).