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Contact: Michael Adolphson
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Barn Notes: Friday, July 25, 2014
In Today's Notes:
- Euro Charline Possible for Beverly D., Triple Threat out of Million
- Gulsary Doubtful for Beverly D.
EURO CHARLINE POSSIBLE FOR BEVERLY D., TRIPLE THREAT OUT OF MILLION
Team Valor International's Euro Charline was an impressive winner Friday afternoon at Ascot and is now under consideration to cross the Atlantic and take on the best turf fillies and mares in America in the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. on Aug. 16. By Group I sprint-winning juvenile Myboycharlie out of six-time winner Eurolink Artemis, Euro Charline is based at Marco Botti's yard at Prestige Place in Newmarket.
Friday's victory in the one-mile Listed Valiant Stakes was the English-bred's second consecutive run over the testing Ascot course. Previously, in June's Group I Coronation Stakes, the filly ran a huge race to be third – beaten a length – and gave a credible effort when fifth in May's Group I 1000 Guineas at Newmarket.
"She was a bit unlucky a couple times," explained Barry Irwin, Team Valor's Founder and Chief Executive Officer. "We were pretty confident today. In the (Coronation) she had to wait and was on the rail. When she finally got through she got bumped pretty hard, but she still ran well."
In Friday's race, Euro Charline broke alertly made the running before being impugned by Qatar Racing's Kiyoshi and ultimately proving victorious. "Today she set the pace and kind of idled on the lead," Irwin explained. "(Kiyoshi) got the jump on her and challenged, but we came back and drew away."
The victory was Euro Charline's first black-type score and may be a sign of more to come for the game filly. A run in the Beverly D. would be an attempt against older fillies and mares at the highest level for the first time, as well as an initial attempt beyond a mile. Botti, who has won a race at the International Festival of Racing in the last two years, is eager to see the filly do so.
"Marco has wanted to do it all along," Irwin said. "I thought it was too tough to run against older horses this time of year in a Grade I and she's not proven beyond a mile, but she ran at Ascot and that course has a tough uphill finish.
"I'm a little skeptical about it, but he feels that she can handle the extra ground and wants to do it. It's three weeks away, so we'll let the horse come back and then take a good look at our options," Irwin said. "One of the best parts about it is that it's an easy flight for us."
Irwin also confirmed that Triple Threat – originally a planned participant in the Grade I Arlington Million – is no longer under consideration. The Group II winner was seventh of 10 in his prep, the Listed Doom Bar Stakes at Newbury last weekend. "I was recently in contact with (trainer) Andre Fabre and I told him we can't go off a race like that. (Triple Threat) needs to regroup."
In non-Festival news from Team Valor, Irwin was pleased with the performance of recent private purchase and impressive Arlington maiden winner Tulira's Star. Third last week in Saratoga's Opening Day featured Grade III Schuylerville Stakes, the former Jimmy DiVito trainee ran gamely in her first attempt on a dirt surface. She is now conditioned by Rick Mettee.
"She got creamed at the start. After that she ran back to last before making her run," Irwin reflected. "Her action was better in her last race on the synthetic. I think we're going to take (jockey) Joe Bravo's advice and try her on the turf."
GULSARY DOUBTFUL FOR BEVERLY D.
Glen Hill Farm's Gulsary is now doubtful for the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D., according to Glen Hill president Craig Bernick. The daughter of Galileo was recently second in the course and distance prep – the Grade III Modesty Handicap – guaranteeing the mare a spot in the gate in the Beverly D., but is most likely declining such.
"She's not quite good enough for a Grade I like the Beverly D.," Bernick explained. "We could either run in the Waya Stakes at Saratoga or the Flaming Page Stakes at Woodbine next out with her." Both the Waya (Aug. 2) and Flaming Page (Aug. 23) are 1½ miles and worth $100,000.
"We've run in the Beverly D. four times, so we have an idea of what type of horse it takes to compete in a race like that. Gulsary is a nice filly and has a ton of quality, but we want her to be in a position where she can win a stakes," Bernick concluded.
-END-
David Zenner│Senior Manager of Communications
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave. Arlington Heights IL 60006-0007
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Twitter: @dave_zenner, @arlingtonracing
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