Alliford Bay looks to stay perfect in Kent Stakes

Alliford Bay will try to remain undefeated when she runs in the $50,000 Kent for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs on Sunday.

She will be a short price to win her third straight race. After all, she was making just the second start of her career in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes and was very impressive, winning the six-furlong sprint by 3 1/4 lengths as the odds-on favorite. The way she was pulling away from the field at the finish suggests she is going to appreciate the extra sixteenth she gets to work with in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint that drew eight horses.

Being a half-sister to Venus Valentine, who won the Grade 2 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds at 74-1 last year, Alliford Bay could have a bright future. She showed her quality in the Seattle Stakes and also impressed in winning her debut for trainer Blaine Wright. Similar to her race at Emerald, she forced an honest pace before drawing away from next-out winners Eccentric Spinster and Fiery Lady in a maiden special weight race at Golden Gate Fields on March 25.

Wright is happy with how she is coming up to the Kent.

“She has settled in nicely and hasn’t missed a beat,” he said. “She’s been a good horse so far, and we’ll just try not to mess it up.”

Wright said he was happy with the way she breezed a half-mile in 49.10 seconds last Sunday.

“She’s ready to go,” he said.

Alliford Bay drew post 3, with Irving Orozco retaining the mount. She has good speed, and if she breaks well, she should be sitting just off Risque’s Legacy early.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Alliford Bay, by City Zip
Last 2 Beyers: 90-76

◗ She was very impressive in both of her wins, and the 90 Beyer Speed Figure she earned in the Seattle Stakes is the best by a 3-year-old filly at Emerald since Karis Makaw received the same figure in 2004.

Risque’s Legacy, by Atta Boy Roy
Last 3 Beyers: 83-57-72

◗ Trained by Tom Wenzel, the homebred suffered her first loss in three starts when she was the runner-up in the Seattle Stakes. After winning a maiden special weight race by nine lengths in her debut, she took them all the way in the $50,000 Washington Cup 2-year-old filly race.

◗ She will be the one they have to catch after she breaks from the rail with leading rider Rocco Bowen riding.

Blazinbeauty, by Tale of Ekati
Last 3 Beyers: 70-63-55

◗ Trained by Frank Lucarelli, the Gottstein Futurity winner wants more distance, but she should be rolling late and could pick up the pieces if the top two get carried away early.