Belle Hill notches first stakes win in Irish Day Handicap

Belle Hill rolled to a four-length victory Sunday in the $50,000 Irish Day Handicap at Emerald Downs, a surprisingly easy triumph in her first start beyond 6 1/2 furlongs. The 3-1 third choice in a field of nine 3-year-old fillies, Belle Hill ran one mile in 1:36.67 under Leslie Mawing and paid $8.40.

It was the first stakes victory for Belle Hill’s owners, James Perkins and Mary Holt-Perkins of Issaquah, Wash., who paid $250,000 for Belle Hill as a 2-year-old. Belle Hill, who rallied from midpack on a surface dominated all day Sunday by speed on the rail, left the impression more stakes successes could be forthcoming.

Pacesetter Seeking the Light finished second, two lengths ahead of Suva Harbor. They were followed by Citizen Kitty, 7-5 favorite Ethan’s Baby, Pippa Bou Peep, Hip Ninety Three, Springsprangsprung, and Sneaking a Kiss.

“Speed was pretty tough today, and I knew there was going to be a lot of speed in here,” Mawing said. “I knew she was capable of lying off the pace because I’ve worked with this horse since day one, and this horse has sheer talent. It was just a matter of riding the right race today.”

Belle Hill has two wins and a third in four starts for trainer Larry Ross with earnings of $49,970, including $27,500 for her victory in the Irish Day. She is likely to start next in the 1-1/16-mile Kent Handicap on July 18 as a prelude to the 1 1/8-mile Washington Oaks on Aug. 8.