Harvey's Lil Goil, Civil Union start drive to Breeders' Cup in Beaugay Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Less than two lengths separated Harvey’s Lil Goil and Civil Union when the two were third and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf last fall.

With the year-end goal for both horses likely a return to the Breeders’ Cup, Harvey’s Lil Goil and Civil Union kick off their 2021 campaigns in Saturday’s Grade 3, $150,000 Beaugay Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park.

Harvey’s Lil Goil, a daughter of American Pharoah, put in three terrific races on turf last fall – a neck loss to Micheline in the Dueling Grounds Oaks, a victory over Micheline in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Keeneland, and a neck loss when third behind Audarya and Rushing Fall in the Breeders’ Cup.

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Mott freshened up Harvey’s Lil Goil over the winter and believes he’s seen a change from 3 to 4.

“She’s filled out a little bit,” Mott said. “She’s always been a very angular filly that doesn’t carry a tremendous amount of extra weight on her. I think she developed some and strengthened some.”

Mott believes that he’s done enough with Harvey’s Lil Goil to have her ready for a successful return with an eye toward the New York Stakes on June 4.

“I think we got plenty of work in her,” Mott said. “She has been breezing well. If she runs well, comes back well, I’d love to go back to the New York.”

Junior Alvarado rides Harvey’s Lil Goil from the rail.

Civil Union, trained by Shug McGaughey, returns to Belmont Park, where she went 3 for 3 last year, winning twice at 1 1/4 miles and once at 1 1/2 miles. Earlier in her career, she was successful at 1 1/16 miles, but this looks like a starting point to get to races like the New York at 1 1/4 miles.

Joel Rosario rides Civil Union from post 5.

Chad Brown has won three consecutive runnings of the Beaugay and four of the last seven. Saturday, he sends out Lemista, a Group 2 winner in Ireland last summer who is making her first start in the United States and first since Sept. 13, and Nay Lady Nay, a multiple graded winner who hasn’t run since finishing eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.

Brown said Lemista “has a nice turn of foot and looks like a quality filly.” Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Lemista from post 2.

Brown felt Nay Lady Nay may not have handled the Keeneland turf course and was out of position early on in the Breeders’ Cup. She was a late-running third in the Flower Bowl, beaten three-quarters of a length by Civil Union.

Javier Castellano rides Nay Lady Nay from post 3.

Platinum Paynter nearly pulled off a 21-1 upset when finishing second behind Regal Glory in the Plenty of Grace Stakes going a mile April 11 at Aqueduct.

Trainer Todd Pletcher believes Thankful worked good enough on turf last weekend to give her a second chance on turf. She finished ninth on grass in May 2020 in her career debut.