Possibly Perfect Is Perfect in Beverly D

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Possibly Perfect proved again that she is America’s top lady on the turf.

The 3-5 favorite, Possibly Perfect ran an ideal race Saturday in winning the $500,000 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington International Racecourse.

“I think she sewed up an Eclipse Award for fillies and mares on the turf,” trainer Robert Frankel said. “Rarely do you achieve your goals, but this time we did.”

Possibly Perfect, who won $300,000 for owner Robert Witt to increase her earnings to almost $1.4 million, paid $3.40 to win, $2.60 to place and $2.20 to show.

As usual, Possibly Perfect ran close to the lead. She stayed just behind Alpride--the only horse to beat her in six starts this year--before inching into the lead at the top of the stretch.

Jockey Corey Nakatani then drew Possibly Perfect clear in midstretch, and the 5-year-old mare finished three-fourths of a length in front of Alice Springs, who edged Alpride for second place in the 1 3/16-mile race.

“I knew we were going easy down the back side. Possibly Perfect was just nice and comfortable,” Nakatani said. “I moved up next to [Alpride] with Possibly Perfect going easy. I wanted to see if [Alpride] could outrun us, and she didn’t do it.”

It was the second victory for Possibly Perfect over Alpride since Alpride beat her in the Beverly Hills Handicap on July 2. Possibly Perfect also won a head-to-head meeting in the Ramona Handicap on Aug. 5.

Alpride’s jockey, Chris McCarron, said his horse “broke real well and just galloped and was relaxed. She did exactly what I wanted her to do. It just wasn’t enough.”

Also frustrated was Rene Douglas, who rode Alice Springs.

“Around the turn, I thought I was the winner,” Douglas said. “But when I asked her to run, the winner still had something left.”