How to bet the 2022 Beverly D. Stakes

Five fillies and mares will vie in Saturday’s $500,000 Beverly D. S. (G1) at Churchill Downs. The 1 1/8-mile grassy affair, which is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” contest, didn’t attract the deepest field of all time and I view it as a virtual two-horse race.

European import #5 Lily Pond (5-2) will make her North American debut for conditioner Aidan O’Brien and gets top billing in the heat. By the late Galileo, the Irish-bred filly was a first-out winner in smart fashion and reached new heights last time out when driving home a convincing victress of the Kilboy Estate S. (G2) at The Curragh.

Lily Pond toppled some solid performers on the cut back in distance in her latest endeavor, and I expect her to thrive at the same distance on Saturday. The bay three-year-old might be starting to reach her potential at this time of the season, and the outside draw should ensure that she will have clear sailing throughout the nine-furlong test. John Velazquez taking the reins is a positive.

The Chad Brown-conditioned #4 Rougir (2-1) is the slight morning-line choice and bears watching for sure while making her local bow. A group 1 heroine at three, the daughter of Territories fetched a hefty bid of $3.3 million in December, and she looked well worth the investment in her first try in the states when dominating the Beaugay S. (G3) at Belmont Park.

The chestnut four-year-old hasn’t displayed that same turn of foot in two outings since, but in her defense, she has been facing deeper fields than what she will encounter on Saturday. The French-bred posted a pair of solid morning moves on the lawn following her fourth-place finish in the Diana S. (G1) at Saratoga most recently, and I expect her to put in her best effort in this spot. Manny Franco comes in to guide the win contender who will be making one run from the back of the pack.

Beverly D. Wagers

• $30 exacta: 5 with 4 ($30)
• $5 trifecta: 5 with 4 with all ($15)