Fev Rover to defend her crown in Beverly D Stakes

A strong field of six fillies and mares will go 1 3/16 miles on the Colonial Downs outer lawn in Sunday’s $500,000 Beverly D. S. (G2). 

Beverly D Wagers

• $20 exacta 4 with 6 ($20)
• $10 trifecta key 4 with 3,6 ($20)
• $10 trifecta 4,6 with 4,6 with 3 ($20)

Race Shape

#1 Libban (7-2) comes off a big win at Lone Star for Saffie Joseph and almost has to go to the front from the rail on the class rise. This Laoban four-year-old has run two good ones in succession since being moved to the turf, but I can’t touch her at her morning-line number against this group. 

Top pick #4 Fev Rover (2-1) dusted a nice cast in this race in 2023 on the front end, and she will be forcing the tempo while sitting in second on the back side. This six-year-old mare had a nice prep for this when second in the Nassau (G2) and could peak in the third time off a layoff. She will inch to the lead in early stretch with Javier Castellano in the silks, and the mare would also be thrilled if there was a lot of moisture on the course. 

I feel that Jose Ortiz will ask morning-line favorite #6 Moira (9-5) for a bit of speed coming out of the gate to have her stay close to Fev Rover throughout. The Kevin Attard trainee was bought for $3 million in November, and the Canadian champion was a very good second in the Diana S. (G1) to commence her season last time out. She is a class act, and it’s worth noting that the five-year-old has run well both on good and yielding surfaces. 

Wilshire (G3) queen #2 Nadette (8-1), #3 Neecie Marie (10-1), and #5 Mission of Joy (6-1) all have a considerable amount of merit and are good enough to win a race of this nature, although the expected moderate early tempo will not enhance their chances for success. 

Of the trio, #3 Neecie Marie is the one I prefer for the vertical exotics, as the four-year-old will appreciate the added ground in the affair. She has also run a few big ones over ovals that are far from firm.