Belvoir Bay takes Mizdirection Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - A study session gave jockey Tyler Baze insight into the ability of the 5-year-old mare Belvoir Bay prior to Sunday’s $81,725 Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Baze put the lessons to work at his first opportunity, guiding Belvoir Bay to a head win over the fast-closing Blame It On Alphie. The Mizdirection was the first time Baze rode Belvoir Bay, who races for Team Valor International and Gary Barber and trainer Peter Miller.
“I worked her two years ago,” he said. “I watched the replays.”

Baze had Belvoir Bay handy through the race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf. Belvoir Bay ($15.40) was fourth on the hillside behind Coniah, the 6-5 favorite who led by as many as two lengths in the first half of the race.

Coniah led when the field crossed from the hillside portion of the turf course to the main oval, but was quickly passed by Belvoir Bay, who was clear by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. The margin diminished rapidly in the final strides.

Blame It On Alphie, who appeared to lead a stride before the wire, finished a half-length in front of 51-1 Classy Tune, who was followed by Coniah, Ancient Secret, Algorhythmic, Malibu Stacy, Princess Princess, Mongolian Shopper, and Bendable, who was eased when the field reached the stretch.

Belvoir Bay, the fourth betting choice, was timed in 1:13.41.

Baze swept the three stakes at Santa Anita over the weekend. He won two Grade 2 races on Saturday: the Santa Monica Stakes for female sprinters with Selcourt, and the San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf on Itsinthepost.

The Mizdirection Stakes was Belvoir Bay’s first start since a seventh in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar last November. Belvoir Bay won the Grade 3 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3, stalking the pace before taking the lead in the stretch.

Baze used similar tactics on Sunday.

“The last win at Del Mar was very impressive,” he said. “I wanted to ride her like that.”

A British-bred by Equiano, Belvoir Bay has won 7 of 18 starts and earned $378,631. The Mizdirection Stakes was her fifth stakes win and second on the hillside turf course. Belvoir Bay won the 2016 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside.