Belle Hill heads short field in Kent Handicap

AUBURN, Wash. – Belle Hill, the leading 3-year-old filly at Emerald Downs, is likely to be a prohibitive favorite Saturday when she headlines the $50,000 Kent Handicap at 1 1/16 miles. Only five horses were signed on to challenge Belle Hill, who coasted to victory in the one-mile Irish Day Handicap in her last start.

Belle Hill has started four times, each race a little better than the last. She won a maiden race at Golden Gate Fields in May in her second start, finished fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Seattle Handicap in her first try against winners, and ran away with the Irish Day in her first route attempt, winning by four lengths on a momentous day for owners James Perkins and Mary Holt-Perkins of Issaquah, Wash. They got involved in racing in 2014 and paid $250,000 for Belle Hill at the Fasig-Tipton summer sale of select horses of racing age last July. The Irish Day was their first stakes victory.

Belle Hill, by Sky Mesa and from the Point Given mare Sealy Hill, has demonstrated both speed and staying power in her brief career. Jockey Leslie Mawing should have options in the Kent. In the most likely scenario, Belle Hill will shadow the three entrants with speed – Ethan’s Baby, Suva Harbor, and Seeking the Light – and try to put them away turning for home. Similar tactics worked like a charm in the Irish Day.

Ethan’s Baby has yet to win in three starts this year, but she’s been close, missing by a nose behind Deb’s Wildcard in the Seattle Handicap. Trainer Howard Belvoir and jockey Julien Couton tried rating tactics with the front-running Ethan’s Baby in the Irish Day, and she ended up having a miserable trip. Ethan’s Baby drew the inside post Saturday, increasing the likelihood that she’ll make a beeline for the front.

Key contenders

Belle Hill (Last 3 Beyers: 78-70-73)

* Belle Hill tuned up for the Kent with a fast workout last Saturday – five furlongs in a best-of-the-morning 58.80 seconds. She has worked four times since arriving at Emerald in mid-May, and each work has been a bullet.

Ethan’s Baby (Last 3 Beyers: 60-78-58)

* The big question is whether Ethan’s Baby can get the distance. She fizzled in her first route attempt, and there’s no route history in her immediate female family, but Ethan’s Baby is by Offlee Wild, who won multiple stakes races at nine furlongs.

Seeking the Light (Last 3 Beyers: 71-56-63)

* An improving filly for trainer Blaine Wright, Seeking the Light posted a career-best 71 Beyer Speed Figure in the Irish Day. She has finished first or second in five consecutive starts.