Exotics Plays for the 2023 Beverly D. Stakes

A talented field of seven fillies and mares will jaunt 1 3/16 miles over the Colonial Downs outer lawn in Saturday’s $500,000 Beverly D. S. (G1). Of the two entered in the affair for conditioner Chad Brown, I have a preference of #6 Gina Romantica (5-1) with Flavien Prat in the controls.

By Into Mischief, the four-year-old took a major step forward when switching to the grass last season and capped 2022 with a convincing score in the Queen Elizabeth II S. (G1) at Keeneland in the fall. The bay filly made her first seasonal showing in the Eatontown S. (G3) at Monmouth Park and finished a close fourth against softer, but I feel that it was a great prep for this endeavor.

Gina Romantica gets more ground to work with in this contest, which will be to her benefit, and the amount of positional speed that she possesses will ensure her of receiving a favorable voyage from the early stages of the tilt, too. I expect the Kentucky-bred to take a major leap forward second time off the layoff.

Mark Casse’s #1 Fev Rover (2-1) was a close third behind a pair of fantastic turf performers in the Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga last time out and is the likely one to beat in the event. The bay five-year-old has run well in each of her five assignments this season but has really been sharp in 2023, with a dominant victory in the Nassau S. (G2) at Woodbine preceding her Diana performance. The Irish-bred will always be in striking range while saving ground beneath Javier Castellano.

Italian Group 2 heroine #3 Romagna Mia (4-1) cost in excess of $525,000 in December and could be any kind for conditioner Graham Motion. The Mastercraftsman gray has kept very good company this season, and Team Valor is known for having success with horses making their first starts in the U.S. in the past. The four-year-old has to be taken seriously with John Velazquez accepting the mount.

#5 Didia (3-1) had a seven-race win streak snapped last time when she was a fine runner-up in the New York S. (G1) for conditioner Ignacio Correas. The dual Group 1 victress is 2-for-2 on the Colonial turf and seems poised for another excellent effort at a distance that will be well within her scope. Vincent Cheminaud will guide the stalker.

Beverly D Wagers

$2 superfecta: 6 with 1,3,5 with 1,3,5 with all ($48)

$1 superfecta: 1,3,5 with 6 with 1,3,5 with all ($24)