Ariege parlays ground-saving trip into Beaumont victory

Thursday's $250,000 Beaumont S. (G2) at Keeneland was billed as the next round in the rivalry between ARIEGE (Doneraile Court) and Golden Doc A (Unusual Heat), and the two did not disappoint as they spearheaded a Southern California sweep. Golden Doc A, who failed to catch Ariege by a half-length in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1) in their previous start, was dispatched as the 2-1 favorite to turn the tables, but once again, she found Ariege too tough to catch.

Both sophomore fillies rated off the pace and launched their bids turning for home. Ariege, who had drawn the rail, bolted through along the inside, while Golden Doc A took the overland route, circling the field 10 wide. Ariege stormed to the front just past midstretch, and by the time Golden Doc A found her top gear down the center of the track, her archrival was long gone. Under a heady ride by Garrett Gomez, Ariege completed about seven furlongs on the Polytrack in 1:25 4/5 to remain perfect from two outings on synthetic surfaces. The Bobby Frankel trainee returned $8.40, $4.20 and $3 as the 3-1 second choice in the nine-filly field.

"I was really not liking my position down the backside," Gomez said of being stuck on the inside. "I tried to edge my way out a couple of times. I couldn't really get out of there. When (Rafael Bejarano on Golden Doc A) started to go around, I said I had to take my chances and get through here because I can't let him get a jump start on me."

Golden Doc A rallied but had to settle for second, crossing the wire one length adrift of the winner. The runner-up gave back $3.40 and $2.60 while ending the $25.20 exacta.

"That's the way she runs," trainer Barry Abrams said of Golden Doc A's effort. "The rail, obviously, was very good today, and the winner saved all the ground. My filly got beat a length and ran two lengths farther."

The pacesetting Passion (Came Home), who carved out fractions of :23 3/5, :47 1/5 and 1:11, checked in another 2 1/2 lengths back in third. The 10-1 shot paid $5.20 to show and concluded the $150.80 trifecta, composed entirely of fillies last seen at Santa Anita. The nearly 7-2 Keep the Peace (Touch Gold) led briefly in the opening strides before yielding to Passion, chased that rival for the duration and wound up fourth, resulting in a $488.80 superfecta (1-8-2-7). Zee Zee (Exchange Rate) came in fifth, followed by Tasha's Miracle (Harlan's Holiday), Officer Cherrie (Officer), Acacia (Cherokee Run) and Armonk (Mizzen Mast). Minewander (Mineshaft) was withdrawn.

Campaigned by IEAH Stables and Pegasus Holding Group Stables, Ariege increased her earnings to $387,531 from her 7-3-1-1 record. As a juvenile, the dark bay was a smashing debut maiden winner in Ireland for Tommy Stack, and in her second start, she finished a creditable fourth in the Debutante S. (Ire-G2). Ariege made her American bow in the Blue Norther S. on the turf at Santa Anita, where she was a mightily troubled third to Gorgeous Goose (Mongoose) and Golden Doc A. After just missing by a nose to Passion in the La Habra S. (G3), Ariege broke through with her first stakes victory in the Santa Anita Oaks.

The winner was a $75,000 yearling purchase at the 2006 Keeneland September sale. She was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm and produced from the multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire and Irish highweight Kostroma (Ire) (Caerleon), who boasts wins in the Beverly D. S. (G1), Yellow Ribbon S. (G1), Santa Barbara H. (G1), Las Palmas H. (G2), Wilshire H. (G2), Dahlia H. (G2) and Desmond S. (Ire-G3), as well as a quartet of listed tallies. Kostroma, who is a half-sister to Group 1 victress Grise Mine (Fr) (Crystal Palace), is also responsible for the stakes-winning Ballet Pacifica (Minardi) and an unraced two-year-old filly named Biswa (Kafwain). This is the same female line as dual Grade 1 heroine Nashoba's Key (Silver Hawk), 2003 Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1) vixen Carry on Katie (Fasliyev) and champion Solinus (Comedy Star).

Frankel has not penciled in Ariege's next engagement.

"I haven't really thought ahead of this race," the Hall of Famer said.