Belvoir Bay strong favorite in Monrovia Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The only thing missing from Belvoir Bay’s trip to Dubai in March was the trophy for winning the Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint.

Belvoir Bay finished second by 1 1/4 lengths to the seven-time group stakes winner Blue Point in the $2 million turf race at six furlongs at Meydan Racecourse. She led to the final sixteenth and finished three-quarters of a length in front of stablemate Stormy Liberal, the champion turf male of 2018.

“I thought she ran super,” trainer Peter Miller said this week. “Blue Point is considered one of the best turf sprinters in the world. To run second to him is quite an accomplishment.”

Belvoir Bay, a nine-time stakes winner since late 2015, recovered quickly from the Al Quoz Sprint, Miller said, leading to a start in Sunday’s Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf at Santa Anita.

“If she runs back to that race, I think she wins,” Miller said.

A 6-year-old mare, Belvoir Bay figures to be a heavy favorite in the $200,000 Monrovia.

Miller also starts Painting Corners, who won her first stakes in the Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf April 13. A quick filly, Painting Corners is expected to set the pace.

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KEY CONTENDERS

Belvoir Bay, by Equiano
Last 3 Beyers: NA-100-84

◗ Prior to the Al Quoz Sprint, Belvoir Bay was unbeaten in two starts at Santa Anita in the winter, winning the Las Cienegas Stakes on a wet-fast track in January and the restricted Wishing Well Stakes at five furlongs on turf Feb. 16.

◗ Owned by Gary Barber, Belvoir Bay resumed workouts at the San Luis Rey Downs training center in late April. The international trip did not take a toll on her fitness, Miller said.

“She bounced back as good as anything we took over there,” he said. “It didn’t appear to take much out of her.

“She fires pretty much every time and has a lot of speed. She’s a dangerous filly.”

◗ Flavien Prat, who was aboard in the Las Cienegas and Al Quoz Sprint, has the mount on a filly likely to be near the front in what could be a scorching pace. Other runners such as the Miller-trained Painting Corners and the four-time stakes winner S Y Sky have shown speed.

Painting Corners, by Pleasant Strike
Last 3 Beyers: 94-78-66

◗ Painting Corners has had erratic form this year. She was fourth in the Las Cienegas and Wishing Well but rebounded to win as the 4-5 favorite in the Mizdirection Stakes, leading throughout.

“I think they’re a good 1-2 punch,” Miller said of his pair. Painting Corners “is coming around.”

Ginger Nut, by Sir Prancealot
Last 2 Beyers: 85-74

◗ The lone 3-year-old filly in the field, Ginger Nut won the Limestone Turf Sprint at 5 1/2 furlongs April 12 at Keeneland, closing from 10th in a field of 12. Trainer John Sadler hopes to see another late rally Sunday.

“There’s a lot of speed, and she has a great kick,” he said. “It’s about the setup.”