Paved, Fatale Bere rematched in Honeymoon Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – One cannot sugarcoat the subpar recent performance by Paved, nor overstate the impressive comeback victory by Fatale Bere.

Both are among the elite 3-year-old turf fillies in California, but when they met two months ago in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes, it was not even close.

Paved, who had defeated males in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, finished a distant third as the Providencia favorite.

Fatale Bere, whose 2-year-old form seemed a distant memory, returned from a four-month layoff with a stylish upset victory in the Providencia.

They meet again Saturday at Santa Anita in the Grade 2 Honeymoon Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies. Paved can win only if she improves on her last start. Fatale Bere may only need to repeat her last start.

Bettors stung by the low-odds defeat might be less forgiving, but trainer Michael McCarthy has not lost faith in Paved. He still believes Paved is a top filly with much potential.

“I have all the faith in the world in [Paved],” McCarthy said. “There was no disgrace getting beat. It was a good learning experience. We have big expectations.”

At least Paved had an excuse in the Providencia. “She usually pulls for an eighth of a mile, then drops it,” McCarthy said. “The other day she pulled for nearly three-eighths. The dynamics of the race – she was going to lay a little bit closer – took her kick away.”

Fatale Bere, meanwhile, enters with less uncertainty. Her comeback in the Providencia sets her up for a big season, and trainer Leonard Powell expects another top effort.

“She’s training as well as she did before the Providencia,” he said. “The key was to get her covered up.”

The Honeymoon purse is $200,000; big money is a race away.

“If we run a good race on Saturday, the Belmont Oaks is a logical next step,” Powell said, referring to the Grade 1, $1 million race July 7 at Belmont Park.

Eight entered the Honeymoon, race 8 on the 11-race Saturday card. The others are May Girl, Finess Bere, Animosity, Ms Peintour, Miss Sienna, and Movie Moment.

KEY CONTENDERS

Paved, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 81-86-88

◗ Gary Stevens picks up the mount on Paved because regular rider Drayden Van Dyke rides Cambodia on Saturday at Belmont. Stevens has worked Paved.

◗ Paved also will be considered for the Belmont Oaks. “I would like to get past this weekend but would love to go to New York,” McCarthy said. “The farther she goes, the better she’s going to be.”

Fatale Bere, by Pedro the Great
Last 3 Beyers: 88-68-79

◗ The 4-for-7 Fatale Bere finished fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall. She had a tough trip in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante at Del Mar in November, then was off four months.

◗ Alonso Quinonez picks up the mount from Joel Rosario.

Ms Peintour, by Paynter
Last 3 Beyers: 87-71-55

◗ Purchased privately and sent to California to trainer Brian Koriner following a runaway debut victory at Gulfstream Park, Ms Peintour won a first-level allowance last out by more than two lengths.