Pimlico: Baltimore Belle draws off to win Dahlia

Baltimore Belle, winner of the Maryland Million Oaks last October, got her first victory in four starts since then when she rallied wide coming off the far turn and drove down the stretch to win Saturday's $65,750 Dahlia Stakes at Pimlico.

Scheduled to be a mile over the turf, the Dahlia was switched to 1 1/16 miles on the main track labeled good after heavy rain in Baltimore Friday night and Sunday morning, and after scratches it went with six fillies and mares.

With Julien Pimentel riding, Baltimore Belle stayed in third off the pace set by Weeper through 24.84 seconds, 49.06, and 1:13.52, with Volare Cantare between them in second. Coming off the turn, Baltimore Belle drew even with Weeper and proceeded to edge away to a 1 3/4-length victory over Weeper, who was 3 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place Volare Cantare, with the favored Ansong another 3 1/4 lengths back in fourth. Baltimore Belle finished in 1:46.69.

Baltimore Belle, a Maryland-bred daughter of Bowman's Band trained by Michael Trombetta, paid $6.60.