Harvey’s Lil Goil Kicks off Season with G3 Victory
Already a Grade I winner and dual-surface stakes winner for American Pharoah, Harvey’s Lil Goil (4f American Pharoah x Gloria S, by Tapit) won her 2021 debut in Saturday’s Grade III Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park.
Racing over 1 1/16 miles on the turf, the American Pharaoh daughter was content to sit behind Platinum Paynter throughout much of the race with a clear break to the rest of the field. As they entered the turn, the gray filly made her move and was even with Platinum Paynter coming into the stretch.
The Bill Mott-trainee opened up lengths on the long time pacesetter in the final furlong with Lemista the only horse to cut into that gap in the closing stages. In the end, Harvey’s Lil Goil still had half a length on the runner-up and it was clear she could have extended that margin if needed.
“She’s one of those fillies that I’ve been waiting for this whole winter,” said jockey Junior Alvarado. “I’m glad she’s back and that she pulled out the win today. I still feel that she wasn’t 100 percent, but she was good enough to beat this group today. She’s an awesome filly to have back again and I’m looking forward to this year with her.”
Mott indicated that the filly’s next start will be the Grade II New York Stakes on June 4.
Racing for Paul Braverman and the Estate of her breeder Harvey Clarke, Harvey’s Lil Goil has won five of her 10 starts with three other on-the-board finishes. The winner of last October’s Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes, she was also third in the Grade I Alabama on dirt and the Grade I Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf as well.
From the extended family of American Pharoah’s Grade I winning studmate Mendelssohn, Harvey’s Lil Goil is out of a half-sister to champion and dual classic winner I’ll Have Another and dual Grade III winner Golden Award.
It was a busy 15 minutes for American Pharoah, who also saw Himiko register her third career victory at Churchill shortly after the Beaugay.
American Pharoah has had a big May with his election into the Hall Of Fame earlier this week surrounded by the stallion registering six winners in the first week of the month.