Arlington: Pachattack hopes for clean break in Beverly D.

Months of careful planning often go into a major race such as the Beverly D., but a millisecond of misfortune can trash it all. Such was the case last year with Pachattack, who dwelt in the starting gate to lose all realistic chance before passing a few rivals in finishing a respectable sixth of nine.

Clearly, a more alert start would help Pachattack to prove she belongs in the elite company that defines this 22nd running of the Beverly D.
Gerard Butler, trainer of Pachattack, said he believes the awful break was little more than a fluke and that he expects jockey Florent Geroux to be able to get the Pulpit mare away in normal order Saturday. Pachattack showed no signs of tardiness with Geroux aboard for her last start, a six-length romp over Polytrack in the Grade 3 Arlington Matron on May 28.

Rather than race her once more, Butler gave Pachattack six workouts on the Polytrack leading up to the Beverly D. Four were bullets, ending with a five-furlong drill Sunday in a minute flat.

“She just came back a bit slow” after the first post-Matron work on June 17, said Butler. “She is very familiar with the course here and has run well fresh in the past, so we should have no problems in this spot.”

Pachattack, breaking from post 8, is 10-1 on the track’s morning line.