Tears of joy flow freely as chairman's horse wins Grade I race

Fans who thought they were watching the 21st running of the Beverly D. on Saturday at Arlington Park were treated instead to a Hallmark Special.

It was tears galore after Arlington Park chairman Richard Duchossois' Eclair de Lune (6-1) rolled to a 1½

lengths victory over Hot Cha Cha in the $750,000 Grade I race.

There was Arlington leading rider Junior Alvarado crying in the saddle as he brought the 4-year-old filly back to the winner's circle.

There was Mr. D. welled up at the thought of winning the race named for his late wife for the first time.

There was winning trainer Ron McAnally, choking up while explaining what the victory meant to his 88-year-old friend.

"This is for this man right here," McAnally said of Mr. D in the winner's circle. "He deserves it so much. He's a first-class man and I knew he wanted to win this for his late wife.

"This is the icing on the cake."

A beaming Duchossois couldn't have agreed more.

"I'd rather win this race than the Kentucky Derby," Duchossois said. "This one means more to me."

Alvarado sat chilly behind front-running Romacaca until the top of the stretch when he guided Eclair de Lune to the front where he held off Hot Cha Cha (4-1) and Gypsy's Warning (9-1).

"This is a wonderful race for me to win," Alvarado said. "When I rode her the last time I knew I could win this race."

Lukewarm favorite Ave ($3.20-1) was bumped early on and simply never recovered.

"I got squeezed out of position," jockey Ramon Dominguez said. "He just came up empty after that."