Ariege, Golden Doc A renew rivalry in Beaumont

ARIEGE (Doneraile Court) and GOLDEN DOC A (Unusual Heat), the respective winner and runner-up in the March 8 Santa Anita Oaks (G1), will square off for the third time in Thursday's Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland. A prep for the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs, the about seven-furlong test has attracted a well-matched field of 10 sophomore fillies.

Golden Doc A kicked off her season with an excellent effort in defeat in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) on the Cushion Track at Santa Anita, gaining ground rapidly on champion Indian Blessing (Indian Charlie) and just failing to catch her by a head. Next time out in the one-mile Las Virgenes S. (G1), Golden Doc A's late rally carried her to a one-length victory, with TASHA'S MIRACLE (Harlan's Holiday) a one-paced third.

Stepping up to 1 1/16 miles in the Santa Anita Oaks, the Barry Abrams trainee again finished energetically, but she was unable to reel in Ariege. Golden Doc A will hope to turn the tables on the Polytrack. Although this will be her first start at Keeneland, the chestnut handled the Polytrack surface well at Del Mar, where she captured the Generous Portion S. last summer. Regular rider Rafael Bejarano will guide Golden Doc A from post 8.

Ariege, an impressive maiden winner in Ireland in July, made her American debut in the grassy Blue Norther S. at Santa Anita and endured a frustrating trip. After being caught in traffic and steadied in midstretch, the Bobby Frankel pupil wound up third, just 1 1/2 lengths adrift of the runner-up, Golden Doc A. Ariege stayed on the turf, but shortened up to about 6 1/2 furlongs, in the La Habra S. (G3) and delivered a stern challenge to PASSION (Came Home), only to come up a nose shy in the photo-finish.

Switching to a synthetic surface for the first time in the Santa Anita Oaks, Ariege got first run on Golden Doc A and held her at bay by a half-length. On Thursday, the dark bay filly will reunite with Garrett Gomez, who was aboard for her near-miss in the La Habra. The 123-pound co-highweight along with archrival Golden Doc A, Ariege will break from the rail.

Passion has enjoyed a brief freshening since the February 2 La Habra. The Todd Pletcher filly was ultra-impressive in her only outing on a synthetic surface, rolling by 7 1/2 lengths in her debut on Arlington Park's Polytrack last July, and was a solid third in the Adirondack S. (G2) at Saratoga in her second start. The dark bay, who reinvented herself as a turf sprinter at Santa Anita this winter, figures to flash speed from post 2 with John Velazquez.

Tasha's Miracle's career highlight so far is a 3 1/4-length tally in the Sorrento S. (G3) at Del Mar, but she has not managed to build on that effort in three subsequent starts. Trainer John Sadler will remove her blinkers in an attempt to get the bay back on track.

Leading the East Coast brigade is KEEP THE PEACE (Touch Gold), who won her first two starts by a combined 11 1/2 lengths. The Eddie Kenneally trainee tackled stakes company for the first time in the seven-furlong Forward Gal S. (G2) at Gulfstream Park, led for much of the way, and was just outdueled by the classy Bsharpsonata (Pulpit). Edgar Prado sticks with the speedy chestnut.

The remaining five fillies also have logical claims. Grade 2-placed ARMONK (Mizzen Mast) is coming off a smart score in the Wide Country S. at Laurel for Kiaran McLaughlin. ZEE ZEE (Exchange Rate), a convincing winner of the Happy Ticket S. on turf last September, will make her three-year-old bow in this spot for Hall of Famer Bill Mott. OFFICER CHERRIE (Officer) was last seen taking the September 29 Mazarine S. (Can-G3) over Woodbine's Polytrack. ACACIA (Cherokee Run), a full sister to Grade 2 star Zanjero, was a remote third to Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) and Indian Blessing in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) in her latest venture. MINEWANDER (Mineshaft), who was third in the Arlington-Washington Lassie (G3) as a juvenile, is exiting an allowance/optional claiming victory at Oaklawn Park.

Ariege will lead the post parade. Following her will be Passion, 119 pounds; Armonk, Joe Bravo, 117; Tasha's Miracle, Robby Albarado, 117; Acacia, Shaun Bridgmohan, 117; Minewander, Larry Melancon, 117; Keep the Peace, 117; Golden Doc A; Officer Cherrie, Patrick Husbands, 117; and Zee Zee, Kent Desormeaux, 117.