Belvoir Bay may stick to dirt for Santa Monica Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Belvoir Bay may be in the midst of a career transformation as a 6-year-old mare.
Belvoir Bay on Saturday won the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes, which was scheduled for the hillside turf course but was moved to the main track because of rain. The surface switch did not affect Belvoir Bay, a six-time stakes winner on turf.
Belvoir Bay won the $100,000 Las Cienegas as the even-money favorite by 1 1/4 lengths in her first start on the main track since a win in the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies at Del Mar in August 2016.
Trainer Peter Miller said Sunday that Belvoir Bay may stay on the main track for the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs for fillies and mares on Feb. 16.
"She’s just unbelievable,” Miller said in the winner’s circle. “She can do anything, any distance up to a mile, any surface.
“I think this may have opened some doors for us in the future, to possibly run on the dirt.”
Owned by Gary Barber, Belvoir Bay has won 10 of 23 starts and earned $642,167.
Earlier on Saturday’s program, the 3-year-old Savagery won an allowance race with an $80,000 claiming option at six furlongs for his second win in eight starts. Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Savagery is a candidate for the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on Feb. 10.
