Stidham might send three in Beverly D.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – These days, the Chad Brown barn overflows with turf talent to the extent that Brown often has multiple runners in graded turf stakes. But while Brown has just one horse, the likely favorite, Sea Calisi, for the Beverly D. Stakes, Arlington-based trainer Mike Stidham made like Brown and pre-entered three horses – Marypop, Zipessa, and Secret Someone.

Stidham said Sunday he might well run all three if for no other reason than that there are no obvious alternative spots for any of them. Secret Someone looks like the least competitive among the trio, but she earned a fees-paid berth in the race by finishing third in the Modesty, where she beat her more highly regarded stablemate Marypop.

Marypop was purchased earlier this year by Arlington chairman Dick Duchossois and won a French Group 3 in her final start before being exported. But she fell too far behind a slow pace in the Modesty and lacked much stretch punch, finishing fifth. But Marypop will race for the first time in blinkers Saturday and has been showing more in her last three works while wearing them. Assistant trainer Hillary Pridham worked Marypop a half-mile on turf around the dogs in 50.20 seconds Sunday morning and came off the track with a thumbs-up. Marypop broke off slowly and went easily the first part of the drill but came past the finish with good energy and galloped out smoothly.

“It seems like the blinkers have kept her a little more focused,” Stidham said.

Zipessa has the best form among the Stidham three, with a last-out win in the Grade 3 James Penny at Parx Racing. But so far, she appears to be more of a miler who might struggle to stay the 1 3/16 miles of the Beverly D.

◗ Stidham now is training a set of 2-year-olds for Godolphin, which sent him 11 juveniles late this spring. Six of those horses have started, compiling a record of 1-5-3, with the strapping Elusive Quality colt Zunino earning a debut win in Sunday’s fourth race. Zunino dead-heated with Crack On, who was disqualified to second for a bumping incident in the homestretch.

◗ Jockey Santo Sanjur was concussed but avoided further injury in a post-race spill Saturday and hopes to return to action Thursday, said his agent, Jodie Sinclair. Sinclair also represents Chris Emigh, who is a few weeks away from his own return from injury.