Belvoir Bay will target bigger jackpot after winning Unzip Me Stakes
ARCADIA, Calif. - Belvoir Bay won her third stakes in the last 12 months in Saturday’s $78,835 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.
The victory left co-owner Gary Barber contemplating races here and at Keeneland for Belvoir Bay’s next start.
Ridden by Norberto Arroyo Jr., Belvoir Bay ($14.80) was always in command and ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.26. After leading by 3 1/2 lengths with a furlong to go Belvoir Bay held off a late threat from 7-2 Miss Katie Mae to win by a half-length. Nodiac, an 8-1 shot, finished third in the field of 12.
Belvoir Bay, trained by Peter Miller, will be considered for the $250,000 Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on dirt at Keeneland on Oct. 22 or the $100,000 Autumn Miss Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course on Oct. 29, Barber said.
Belvoir Bay, a British-bred filly by Equiano, has won 5 of 10 starts and $194,776.
She won the minor Blue Norther Stakes at a mile on turf last December, but emerged from the race with an injury, Barber said. During the Del Mar summer season, Belvoir Bay was 10th in the San Clemente Handicap after drifting out badly during the running, but rebounded to win the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at a mile on the main track on Aug. 28.