Sparkling Beam’s not to be overlooked in Beverly D.

Sparkling Beam brings useful French form into an open-looking renewal of the Million’s sister race (Courtesy of Arlington notes writer Michael Adolphson via Twitter)

It is difficult to imagine that a
charge owned by a multiple classic-winning owner and trained by a two-time
Breeders’ Cup-winning conditioner can sneak into a Grade 1 race under the
proverbial radar, but such is happening with George Strawbridge’s Jonathan
Pease-trained filly Sparkling Beam in the Beverly D. at
Arlington this Saturday.

Still, it may be somewhat
understandable considering the field for the summertime filly and mare turf
classic is replete with six Grade 1 or Group 1 victors, including a Breeders’
Cup winner and Irish classic hero. The competition does not seem to faze
the constitution of Pease, though. In 1994, Pease brought Strawbridge’s — who runs under the Augustin
Stable banner — Tikkanen to America as a sophomore
to win the Turf Classic Invitational over his older rivals. A few
weeks later, still getting little respect, Tikkanen looped the entire field in
the Breeders’ Cup Turf with panache.

“(Sparkling Beam) is fine and all is going well,” Pease reported.
“Hopefully she’ll run well. (Her competitors) are all about the same,
really. There’s nothing that stands out as a really strong Group 1 filly,
to me. She will still need luck and things to go her way.”

Exiting an excellent second in the
Prix de la Pepiniere, the daughter of 10-furlong specialist Nayef has
finished in the exacta in 10 of her 15 career starts — including an excellent
win in last year’s Prix Chloe.