Bella Mia surges to Kent Stakes victory

Bella Mia ($6.00) outdueled favored Ima Happy Cat to win the $50,000 Kent Stakes at Emerald Downs on Sunday.

It was a two-horse race right from the start of the 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-old fillies, with Bella Mia drawing off late to win by 2 1/4 lengths.

With Julien Couton riding for trainer Blaine Wright, Bella Mia broke alertly from the inside post. It didn’t take long for Ima Happy Cat to join her on the lead. They raced as a team while posting rapid interior fractions of 21.92 and 43.79 seconds. Bella Mia put her head in front at the top of the stretch, increased her advantage to 1 1/2 lengths at the eighth-pole and drew off under strong urging. Ima Happy Cat held on well to finish 1 3/4 lengths clear of Downwind, who was last early and made a late move that didn’t threaten the top two.

The final time was 1:15.95.

The champion 2-year-old filly in Washington last year, Bella Mia was coming off a runner-up finish behind Ima Happy Cat in the $50,000 Seattle Stakes in her first start this year on May 20.

“She was really on top of her game today,” Couton said. “When I asked her at the top of the stretch she just opened up.”

It was the third stakes win at the meet for Wright, who also trains Downwind.

A Washington-bred daughter of Harbor the Gold, Bella Mia is owned by John and Janene Maryanski. She was bred by Mr. and Mrs. Willian T. Griffin.