Sea Calisi rallies to give Schwartz fourth Beverly D. win

A strong favorite throughout the wagering, Sea Calisi justified that confidence with a successful off-the-pace rally in Saturday's $700,000 Beverly D. (G1) at Arlington.

Already the leading owner in race history, Martin Schwartz won the Beverly D. for a fourth time, and it was also the fourth win on the day for jockey Florent Geroux, who also captured the Arlington St. Leger (G3) and Secretariat (G1) prior to the Beverly D.

Aided by a strong early pace set by the three-year-old filly Elusive Million, also owned by Schwartz and trained by Chad Brown, Sea Calisi settled in 11th early. Elusive Million's early splits were :23.71 and :47.68 with Sea Calisi as much as 13 lengths behind, but she kept outside and in the clear by Geroux and kicked into gear entering the stretch.

"Turf horses are push button, just sit back, pull the trigger and they are there when you need them," Geroux said. "We got helped a lot today with the pace maker, it was good for that, she needed some pace and clean trip and it worked out good."

Sea Calisi wore down Zipessa, who had inherited the lead after Elusive Million's retreat down the backside, inside the final sixteenth and held off a late charge from 20-1 chance Al's Gal to win by a half-length. Zipessa was 1 1/4 lengths back in third, with Tuttipaesi a further length behind in fourth.

Odds-on through much of the wagering, Sea Calisi drifted up to 11-10 at post time and paid $4.20 after completing 1 3/16 miles on firm turf in 1:54.93.

A "Win and You're In" prep for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1), the Beverly D. was more evidence that Sea Calisi will likely provide a strong home defense of the 1 1/4-mile fixture at Santa Anita in November.

Campaigned primarily in France at three, Sea Calisi captured the Prix de Malleret (G2) at Saint-Cloud and placed in the Prix de Royaumont (G3) and Prix Vermeille (G1), as well as the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) in England.

She made her U.S. debut in the May 7 New York (G2) at Belmont Park, winning stylishly as the 3-5 favorite. The odds-on favorite to repeat in the Sheepshead Bay (G2) last time, Sea Calisi lacked a clear path until very late in the stretch but could only finish second to fellow Brown trainee Dacita.

Sired by multiple Group 1 winner Youmzain, a three-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), Sea Calisi is out of Triclaria, a daughter of Surumu. Sea Calisi is a half-sister to German Group 3 winner Tareno and Group 2-placed stakes winner Timos. Triclaria is also the second dam of Scandinavian champion Taja and Group 3 winner Theo Danon.

Sea Calisi was bred in France by Derek Bloodstock.