U.S. trio highlight Beverly D.

Three top U.S. turf distaffers are the main draws for Saturday's $750,000

Beverly D. S. (G1), which will kick off the International Festival of Racing

program that also features the Million (G1) and Secretariat S. (G1). Grade 2

queen GORELLA (Fr) (Grape Tree Road [GB]), a close third in last year's

Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), is the 5-2 favorite on the morning line. E.P. Taylor S.

(Can-G1) winner HONEY RYDER (Lasting Approval), who brings a three-race stakes

winning skein into the 1 3/16-mile test, is the 3-1 second choice. Grade 1

victress FILM MAKER (Dynaformer), a convincing winner of the recent All Along

Breeders' Cup S. (G3) in her 2006 debut, is listed next at 4-1.

Gorella hails from the powerful Patrick Biancone shedrow and displayed top

class form in Europe before arriving in America last fall. She turned in two

first-rate efforts stateside last season and is two-for-three this year, the

lone setback coming against males in the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1).

Julien Leparoux will ride the four-year-old lass. Millionaire Honey Ryder is a

nine-time stakes winner for Todd Pletcher and relishes a route of ground. Film

Maker recorded a runner-up finish in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and

was third in the same event at Belmont Park last fall. Trained by Graham Motion,

the six-year-old mare exudes class but must overcome the far outside post in the

field of 11.

Other contenders include multiple Grade 2 winner WEND (Pulpit), winner of the

Jenny Wiley S. (G2) and Honey Fox H. (G3) this year for Bill Mott; the Neil

Drysdale-trained LIVE LIFE (Fr) (Linamix), who finished a close second in the

Beverly Hills H. (G2) two starts back; and the three-year-old filly RISING CROSS

(GB) (Cape Cross [Ire]), who will take on her elders while making her first U.S. start.

Rising Cross captured a listed event earlier this year in England and finished

second in the Epsom Oaks (Eng-G1). The John Best pupil exits a third behind Alexandrova (Sadler's Wells) in the Irish Oaks (Ire-G1).

Gorella will lead the post parade. Next comes SHARP LISA (Dixieland Band),

Edgar Prado, 12-1; CHIC DANCER (Joyeux Danseur), Chris Emigh, 20-1; Rising

Cross, Martin Dwyer, 15-1; Wend, Garrett Gomez, 10-1; Honey Ryder, John Velazquez;

Live Life, Victor Espinoza, 10-1; MINGE COVE (Sandpit [Brz]), Shaun Bridgmohan,

30-1; ROYAL COPENHAGEN (Fr) (Inchinor [GB]), Rene Douglas, 20-1; RICH IN SPIRIT

(Repriced), Mark Guidry, 12-1; and Film Maker, Ramon Dominguez.

All starters will carry 123 pounds except Rising Class, who gets a six-pound

allowance.