Alliford Bay runs down Fast and Foxy in California Governor’s Cup

Everything went wrong for Alliford Bay ($9.60) when she ran in the Kent Stakes at Emerald Downs in her last start, but everything went right Saturday as the 3-year-old City Zip filly met older for the first time in the $60,100 California Governor’s Cup Handicap at the State Fair in Sacramento.

Alliford Bay, a $150,000 purchase by Peter Redekop as a 2-year-old at Ocala in April 2016, won her debut at Golden Gate Fields this March then went north to Emerald Downs where she won the Seattle Stakes. She ran sixth as the 3-10 favorite in the Kent, but had nothing but bad luck, acting up prior to the race, getting carried out wide and knocked out of contention at the quarter pole before making up 6 1/2 lengths in the stretch despite bleeding “horribly” according to trainer Blaine Wright.

Things went differently on Saturday. As expected, the speedy Fast and Foxy set fast fractions in the six-furlong stakes. She led Alliford Bay’s stablemate and race favorite Invested Prospect by a length through a 21.89 opening quarter-mile, with Alliford Bay another length back in third.

Invested Prospect wilted early with Alliford Bay second after a 44.29 half, but three lengths behind at a 56.98 five-furlong split.

Jockey Irving Orozco, who has ridden Alliford Bay in every start, kept her wide and in the clear on the turn but shifted in as she chased Fast and Foxy in the lane.

“Irving told me if he’d stayed outside he might not have won,” said Wright. “When the dirt hit her head, she really dug in and was surging late.”

Alliford Bay defeated Fast and Foxy by three-quarters of a length in 1:09.53 with Princess Ashlyn third another half-length back.

Wright, who took blinkers off the winner for the first time in Saturday's race, said she would likely be stretched out.

Her third victory in four starts earned her $32,750 to increase her bankroll to $75,850.