Beverly D. scouting report: Euro Charline

Euro Charline, who made history as the first three-year-old filly to win the Beverly D. (G1), could rewrite the record books again by becoming the race’s first two-time winner.

The Team Valor International filly was on an upward curve this time last year. Fifth in the 1000 Guineas (G1), a slightly troubled third in the Coronation (G1), and victorious in the Valiant back at Ascot, the Marco Botti trainee comfortably disposed of a terrific 2014 Beverly D. field:

 

It would take too long to recount the details of just how deep last year’s Beverly D. was. Suffice to say that the second and third, Stephanie’s Kitten and Just the Judge, both went on to win Grade 1s before finishing second and third again in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Unfortunately, Euro Charline was flattered in absentia. Her progress was interrupted by an injury that cropped up after she switched to Todd Pletcher. She underwent surgery last October to remove a “tiny bone fragment” from a hind ankle.

"It actually was an old injury suffered a long time ago, probably as a foal or a yearling, that was fairly well hidden and embedded in the bone," Team Valor impresario Barry Irwin said. "Training over here on dirt must have reactivated the area."

Shipped back to Botti in Newmarket, Euro Charline had a tighter timetable than ideal to make the March 28 Dubai Turf (G1) on World Cup night. She was ready in time, but it was a tall task off the layoff, and complicated by her free-wheeling eagerness up front. In the circumstances, Euro Charline did well to hold fourth behind world-class males. The imperious winner, Solow, has since extended his streak to eight in a row, and The Grey Gatsby was recently dueled into defeat by unbeaten Epsom Derby (G1) star Golden Horn: