Fillies competing against the colts is not uncharted territory, especially for trainer Jimmy Takter.
Takter trainee Ariana G will aim to add her name to a list of distaffers with open company stakes success that includes the likes of Moni Maker, Pampered Princess and See You At Peelers with her first start against colts and geldings in the third and final elimination of the Earl Beal Jr. for three-year-old trotters.
After a dominant rookie season with a 9-1-0 summary from 11 starts and $800,000-plus in earnings -- tops among all 2016 two-year-olds -- Ariana G (Muscle Hill- Cantab It All) has returned as a sophomore with the same stellar form. Two starts and two wins for the reigning divisional champ, her most recent a 1:51.1 romp on June 2 at The Meadowlands. That mile, just two fifths off a second off the track record, was just the tip of the iceberg.
"I know how good this filly is, she's as good as any colt out there," Takter told Trot Insider. She'd have broken 1:50 that night."
Faced with a large gap in the stakes schedule and only a handful of opportunities to race for this kind of purse, Takter and the connections -- GTA-based breeder-owners Marvin Katz & Al Libfeld -- made the decision to stake Ariana G to the Beal over the winter in the event they had a filly that looked competitive. Takter noted that Ariana G's next possible stakes start would be the Delvin Miller Memorial on July 15 -- a break of more than a month -- if she wasn't racing in the Beal. The choice to race her against the boys was made easier by her form, but Takter knows the race won't be a cakewalk.
"It's such a tough race," noted Takter, You know that race is going to go very fast, it's not an easy race to go into."
If any trainer could speak to success in and what it takes to win the Beal, it's Jimmy Takter. Of the six editions, Takter has captured three: Corky (2013), Father Patrick (2014) and Pinkman (2015). Ariana G gives Takter his best chance at a fourth title, starting from Post 6 in the 14th and final race on a stakes-elim loaded card that also includes eliminations for the James Lynch Memorial (three-year-old pacing fillies), the Max Hempt Memorial (three-year-old pacing colts) and the Ben Franklin (older pacing horses).
"It's not that bad of a post," admitted Takter. "With a seven-horse field, it gives everyone a chance."
Ariana G is the 2-1 morning line choice in a strong division that includes the likes of 2016 Peter Haughton winner What The Hill (PP1, David Miller, 3-1), Maryland speedball Ei Ei O (PP2, Matt Kakaley, 12-1), New York-sired standout Bills Man (PP4, Corey Callahan, 7-2) and early season stakes winner Moonshiner Hanover (PP7, Scott Zeron, 6-1).
In the first elim (Race 2) Takter sends out Rubio (PP3, Yannick Gingras, 3-1). Takter guided Rubio to a win in his seasonal debut on June 10 in a PaSS division at Pocono, and has "high expectations" for Rubio feeling he should be better this start.
Takter's hopes in the second elim rest with King On The Hill (PP 8, Jim Marohn Jr., 12-1), a winner in his most recent outing in a lifetime best 1:52.3.
"Post is going to hurt him," noted Takter. "If he had a bit better post, I'd be a bit more optimistic."
Despite racing on the front in that 1:52.3 mile, Takter feels King On The Hill is a better horse from behind and that trip is probable given the circumstances of the draw.
The top three horses from each division will advance to next Saturday's $500,000 final as part of Pocono's Sun Stakes Saturday card.