Alliford Bay notches third stakes win in row

Alliford Bay paid $3.40 and posted a final time of 1:14.86 while easily winning the 6 1/2-furlong $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes at Emerald Downs on Saturday.

With Julien Couton riding, she stalked her stablemate Invested Prospect through a half-mile in 44.26 seconds, moved into serious contention on the middle of the turn, and then took complete control of the race at the eighth pole to win by a decisive four lengths.

No Talking Back was bumped at the start before rallying from well back to edge Invested Prospect by three-quarters of a length for the runner-up spot.

It was the first time Couton had ridden Alliford Bay in a race.

“I had seen her run many times and was hoping to get a chance to ride her,” he said. “We had a perfect race.”

It was the third straight stakes win at 6 1/2 furlongs for the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of City Zip. Trained by Blaine Wright for owner Peter Redekop, Alliford Bay was also an easy winner of the $50,000 Brighouse Belles and $50,000 Vancouver Sun at Hastings. Earlier Saturday, Wright won the 1 1/16-mile $50,000 Strawberry Morn at Hastings with Top Quality.

It was also a good day for Redekop, who won the $50,000 John Patrick for fillies and mares at Northlands Park with the Monica Russell-trained Anstrum.