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Trainer Patrick Biancone and Julien Leparoux with Gorella after winning the Beverly D. Arlington Million results Secretariat Stakes results Miscellaneous Photos from the day

The distaff event of Arlington Park's International Festival of Racing is the $750,000 Beverly D Stakes (G1). Ten older fillies and mares entered this 1 3/16 mile turf feature, with Gorella sent off the 6-5 favorite off her win in the Just A Game at Belmont last time out. Also in the field were Film Maker, winner of the All Along at Colonial, and Honey Ryder, winner of the R.G. Dick at Delaware Park, tied for second favorite at just over 3-1 on the board.

14-1 outsider Live Life sprinted to a 1 1/2 length lead first time past the stands, and was as many as 3 lengths clear through fractions of 23.33, 46.82, and 1:11.18 despite losing a shoe on the clubhouse turn. Gorella raced near the back of the field down the backstretch, while Film Maker and Honey Ryder stalked the pace in mid-pack. Turning for home, Live Life looked home free, extending her lead to 1 1/2 lengths at the 1/8 pole. But the favorite Gorella, who had taken the final turn widest of all, was quickly closing the gap while passing the field down the center of the course. Inside the 1/8 pole, Gorella went right by the tiring pacesetter to win going away by 1 3/4 length over late-running Film Maker, completing the 1 3/16 mile trip in 1:53.71. It was just 1/2 a length back to pacesetter Live Life, who held off Honey Ryder for the show spot by just a nose.

 #  Horse                Jockey          Win  Place   Show
 1  Gorella              Leparoux       4.60   3.00   2.40
11  Film Maker           Dominguez             3.60   3.40
 7  Live Life            Espinoza                     5.60

$2 Exacta  (1-11) paid            17.20
$2 Trifecta (1-11-7) paid        148.40
$2 Superfecta (1-11-7-6) paid    366.20
Winning Time:  1:53.71

Gorella circles after the race before the put the flowers on her. Winning jockey Julien Leparoux, celebrating his first Grade 1 win, said, "You have to have patience with this filly. It's the only way to ride her. She's a like a machine. She proved it today."

Trainer Patrick Biancone (right) with jockey Julien Laparoux and his mother (left) who was visiting from France. It was the second consecutive win in the Beverly D. for Biancone who said, "He's (jockey Julien Leparouox) is a very cool guy. He waited to the last moment and he won the first grade I win of his life. I think he'll remember that his whole life. Today, we saw a new part of her game - she can go longer than a mile. It was a gamble for us but had trained really well. We came, we won and we were the best today."

Left: Gorella in the paddock before the race.

Right: Gorella in the post parade.

Second place finisher Film Maker heads out to the track before the race. Her trainer H. Graham Motion said, "I realize she had a little rough trip in the stretch. It was a strong effort, I just couldn't see what happened to her around the eighth pole. Obviously, I'm disappointed not to win but she ran a great race." Jockey Ramon Dominguez added, "My trip was good. I was in traffic the last part, and at one point I had to check, but I can't take anything away from the winner."

Third place finisher Live Life returns after the race. Her jockey Victor Espinoza said, "I had a good trip. She ran very well. She lost her shoe on the first turn. I could feel it after that she had a little trouble handling the track. This filly has a little bit of a temperament, so I just play it by ear to see what happens. It was a good clean break and losing the shoe cost me a little bit on that first turn."

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