Bootleggers Wife wins Bird of Pay Stakes

Bootleggers Wife remained undefeated with an easy win over Raise a Dancer in the $51,850 Bird of Pay Stakes at Northlands Park on Friday evening. She paid $2.50 as the prohibitive favorite in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies that drew four horses.

Bootleggers Wife broke sharply from the rail, but a confident Shannon Beauregard eased her into a stalking position while sitting outside of Raise a Dancer. She looked comfortable tracking the leader, and when Beauregard turned her loose at the quarter pole, there wasn't any doubt about the outcome.

Bootleggers Wife was still a half-length behind Raise a Dancer at the top of the stretch, but she was moving easily, and with little urging from Beauregard, she drew off to win by 2 3/4 lengths over Raise a Dancer. Leena finished another eight lengths back in third.

The final time was 1:19.27.

Trained by Tim Rycroft, Bootleggers Wife was coming off an 11 3/4-length romp in the $55,000 Princess Margaret. She is owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd., which paid $42,000 for her at the 2014 Keeneland September yearling sale.