Charlene’s Dream A Reality In The Beverly D.

[Wandering Eyes]

NEW KENT, VA-It wasn't as much of an upset as it felt like but Charlene's Dream (Qurbaan) proved a determined winner on the front end Saturday to take the GII Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs. In a race billed as largely between GI Gamely Stakes winner Be Your Best (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Beach Bomb (Saf) (Lancaster Bomber), it was the Ed Moger Jr. trainee who stole away as the third choice in the wagering for owner Domeyko Taylor, LP.

Having raced on all three surfaces in now her third season on the track, the $35,000 Fasig Midlantic grad has shown plenty of early foot on the grass of late including a gate-to-wire win in the GIII Galorette Stakes on the Preakness undercard at Pimlico May 17. Two runs at Churchill Downs both saw her caught late when second in the GIII Mint Julep Stakes June 1 and fifth in the listed Anchorage Stakes when last spotted June 29.

Drawn mid pack, the game plan was clear as Javier Castellano gunned his Texas-bred filly to the front where she was allowed to go on ahead of Be Your Best through less-than-fast fractions of :23.78 and :48.30. And while the race favorite loomed off the far turn, Charlene's Dream refused to give up her advantage, repelling the late charge of Spanish Eyes (Ger) (Sortilege {Ire}) to win going away.

For trainer Ed Moger Jr., the win was a culmination of talent he saw in his filly from the start.

“I've liked her all along, before she even ran the first time,” said Moger. “I told people she could be the best horse I've ever trained.”

High praise coming from the trainer who guided Stiletto Boy (Shackleford) to a win in the GI Santa Anita Handicap.

“She hasn't made as much [money] as maybe some of the others but she's got all upside to go,” he continued. “She can go fast and she doesn't get tired. She keeps on going. That's just the way she is. She trains the same way.”

Moger, along with owner Clifton Taylor, both acknowledged a potential upcoming run in the Breeders' Cup.

“We might need one more [race] to get us in,” said Taylor. “We'll see, Ed's in charge. We're going to follow him. He always finds good spots for this filly. There wasn't a lot of great places to run without having to travel this summer. We ran great here so hopefully, [the Breeders' Cup] is the dream.”

Pedigree Note:

The flagbearer for sire Qurbaan who has just three crops to race, Charlene's Dream is out of a winning War Front mare Ciara Kelly who was culled for just $16,000 at KEENOV in 2016 to Eric Moreau-Sipiere after realizing $350,000 as a yearling at KEESEP in 2013. She's produced four winners from as many to race with a 2-year-old Echo Town filly and a yearling Thousand Words filly still to represent her. After failing to take to Nashville for a 2025 foal, she returned to him for another try in 2026.

 

Charlene's Dream digs in and lands the Grade 2 Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs! pic.twitter.com/uoJDKx0XKN

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 9, 2025

Saturday, Colonial Downs
BEVERLY D. S.-GII, $501,200, Colonial Downs, 8-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/16mT, 1:53.74, fm.
1–CHARLENE'S DREAM, 122, f, 4, by Qurbaan
1st Dam: Clara Kelly, by War Front
2nd Dam: Sapphire Mink, by Unbridled's Song
3rd Dam: Lucifer's Stone, by Horse Chestnut (Saf)
($22,000 Ylg '22 KEEJAN; $35,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP; $35,000 2yo
'23 EASMAY). O-Domeyko Taylor LP; B-Eric Moreau-Sipiere &
Randi Moreau-Sipiere (TX); T-Ed Moger, Jr.; J-Javier Castellano.
$310,000. Lifetime Record: 11-6-2-0, $645,734. Werk Nick
Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Spanish Eyes (Ger), 122, f, 4, Zarak (Fr)–Sortilege (Ire), by
Tiger Hill (Ire). (€95,000 RNA Ylg '22 ARQDOY; €1,300,000
3yo '24 ARQDEC). O-Qatar Racing LLC and Michaela Faust;
B-Gestut Karlshof (GER); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $100,000.
3–Be Your Best (Ire), 126, m, 5, Muhaarar (GB)–Kamakura, by
Medaglia d'Oro. O-Michael J. Ryan; B-St. Croix Bloodstock
(IRE); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. $50,000.
Margins: 1HF, NK, NK. Odds: 2.60, 5.80, 2.10.
Also Ran: Duvet Day (Ire), Beach Bomb (Saf), Chick's Shadow.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

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