Sparkling Beam's not to be overlooked in Beverly D.

It is difficult to imagine that a

charge owned by a multiple classic-winning owner and trained by a two-time

Breeders' Cup-winning conditioner can sneak into a Grade 1 race under the

proverbial radar, but such is happening with George Strawbridge's Jonathan

Pease-trained filly Sparkling Beam in the Beverly D. at

Arlington this Saturday.

Still, it may be somewhat

understandable considering the field for the summertime filly and mare turf

classic is replete with six Grade 1 or Group 1 victors, including a Breeders'

Cup winner and Irish classic hero. The competition does not seem to faze

the constitution of Pease, though. In 1994, Pease brought Strawbridge's -- who runs under the Augustin

Stable banner -- Tikkanen to America as a sophomore

to win the Turf Classic Invitational over his older rivals. A few

weeks later, still getting little respect, Tikkanen looped the entire field in

the Breeders' Cup Turf with panache.

"(Sparkling Beam) is fine and all is going well," Pease reported.

"Hopefully she'll run well. (Her competitors) are all about the same,

really. There's nothing that stands out as a really strong Group 1 filly,

to me. She will still need luck and things to go her way."

Exiting an excellent second in the

Prix de la Pepiniere, the daughter of 10-furlong specialist Nayef has

finished in the exacta in 10 of her 15 career starts -- including an excellent

win in last year's Prix Chloe.