Daddys Lil Darling marooned in Modesty

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – They’re not making it easy on Daddys Lil Darling in the Grade 3, $100,000 Modesty Handicap.

Not only does Daddys Lil Darling carry top weight of 124 pounds in the 1 3/16-mile prep for the Grade 1 Beverly D., she breaks from the outside gate in a field of 13.

“When I saw that draw I wasn’t too thrilled,” said trainer Ken McPeek. “She drew poorly as a 2-year-old all the time, too, and still ran well. That draw is really tricky, but it does look like a good spot for her either way.”

In a vacuum, Daddys Lil Darling would easily be the most likely Modesty winner, but between the weight, the draw, and the fact McPeek is prepping her for a run in the Beverly D., it’s not the worst idea to try and beat the favorite.

KEY CONTENDERS

Daddys Lil Darling, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 99-92-95

◗ Hasn’t won in three starts as a 4-year-old after capturing the Grade 1 American Oaks to finish her 3-year-old season, but her closing third behind the Chad Brown-trained pair of Fourstars Crook and Sistercharlie in the New York Stakes on June 8 was a very strong performance.

◗ Her best races have come between 1 1/8 and 1 ¼ miles, and the Modesty distance seems perfect.

“I have no doubt she’ll run well but someone could get an inside run and beat her that way,” McPeek said.

Hallie Belle, by Medaglia d’Oro

Last 3 Beyers: 86-74-88

◗ Has a much better draw than the favorite and carries just 116 pounds, a meaningful eight-pound pull from Daddys Lil Darling.

◗ Lightly raced Godolphin 4-year-old brims with upside. She was dull at Fair Grounds in February but returned April 21 at Laurel to beat the Grade 1-class turf mare Hawksmoor.

◗ Trainer Mike Stidham has waited patiently for the filly to come back to her best before running her again. “The one race at Fair Grounds, she wasn’t doing quite as well, so we decided we were only going to run her at the top of her game, and she’s back to being there now,” he said.

Prado’s Sweet Ride, by Fort Prado

Last 3 Beyers: 74-89-87

◗ She finished second in the 2017 Modesty and, despite form suggesting otherwise, enters this race in a comparable position, said trainer Chris Block. “She’s trained good, acting good,” said Block. “She’s coming into it the way I saw her coming into last year’s race.”

◗ Hasn’t gotten on turf yet this year, and following a subpar run over the winter had surgery to correct an entrapped epiglottis.

Celestial Insight, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 91-90-89

◗ Entered to be sold at auction next week in Kentucky, trainer Graham Motion said.

◗ Has shown her best form in races between one mile and 1 1/8 miles. “She definitely needs to settle – that’s very important for her,” Motion said.

Princess La Quinta, by Quality Road

Last 3 Beyers: 88-88-83

◗ Won the Arlington Matron over nine furlongs before finishing a respectable third June 23 going seven furlongs, a distance well short of her best, in the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap.

◗ All her top performances have come on Polytrack, but trainer Jim Gulick doesn’t believe she is surface-dependent