Bailzee taking on elders at Belmont
ELMONT, N.Y. - Hopes were high for Bailzee before she made it to the races. While her debut was delayed by about seven months, Bailzee has not disappointed.
Bailzee will seek to make it three wins from four career starts on Wednesday when she heads a field of eight entered in a $40,000 second-level New York-bred allowance race going six furlongs at Belmont Park. Bailzee is one of two 3-year-olds in the field of eight.
Bailzee, a 3-year-old daughter of Grand Slam, was entered to run in a maiden race last July at Belmont, but she injured a shin in a workout four days before the race. She never ran at 2.
She debuted on Feb. 15 at Aqueduct and was sent off as the 9-5 favorite in an 11-horse field. Overcoming a slow start from the rail, Bailzee rallied from off the pace to win by two lengths. Three weeks later, she won a first-level, statebred allowance, beating Wicked Diva, a 4-year-old filly who was the 1-5 favorite in the race coming off a 5 1/2-length maiden win.
"I was surprised when she came back and won against [Wicked Diva] in her second start," trainer Patrick Kelly said. "That's the tough thing this time of year; if you can keep a 3-year-old with 3-year-olds that's always preferred."
Kelly will next be able to keep Bailzee with 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Bouwerie Stakes, a seven-furlong race restricted to New York-bred 3-year-olds on June 20. In that spot, she is likely to run against the multiple stakes winner Cuff Me, who defeated Bailzee in the Lottsa Talc Stakes at Aqueduct on April 1.
Bailzee is owned by Fox Ridge Farm, which purchased her for $135,000 as a yearling in 2008. She is out of the Grade 2-winning mare Golden Gale.
Bailzee, who breaks from the rail under Jose Espinoza, would benefit from a contested pace and she should get it with Not a Peep, Yo Karakorum, and the 3-year-old No More Stress in the field.
The 7-year-old Motor City Mama won this same kind of race - which offers an optional claiming price of $35,000 - on April 15. Motor City Mama was offered for the claiming price that day and is again. Rajiv Maragh rides Motor City Mama from post 2.
Salt Water Reign, second when offered for $35,000 on March 25, is a five-time winner who has run several races good enough to take this. Sorority Sister and Let's Fly Away complete the field.