ARCADIA, CA – Breaking from the outside, Belvoir Bay shot like a bullet out of the gate and wired the field in Saturday’s $1 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park. This was the first win since February for the six-year-old mare who and has now amassed nearly $1.7 million throughout her 28 race career.
At odds of 14-1, Belvoir Bay went right to the front and never looked back as she set blazing fractions of :21.47 and :43.13 with jockey Javier Castellano aboard. She never slowed a bit as she cruised to the wire with a 1 1/4 length victory and a track record-breaking final time of :54.83. Shekky Shebaz and Final Frontier also broke well but never stood a chance against the speedy Belvoir Bay. Om also made a nice late run and looked ready to challenge but couldn’t get up in time and settled for second. Shekky Shebaz finished third, Final Frontier was fourth, and the 7-2 post time favorite Pure Sensation was fifth.
“This horse just rocketed out of the gate,” said jockey Javier Castellano. “She relaxed for me around the turn and it gave me confidence that we were going to win. Peter [Miller] told me the horse was training great.”
Girls Know Best and Double Touch were unable to draw in from the Also-Eligibles list.
Belvoir Bay was bred in Great Brittan by Mrs. R.D. Peacock and is owned by Gary Barber. She is trained by Peter Miller who also sent Om to this race to complete the exacta.
“She’s just so tough,” said trainer Peter Miller. “I felt good at the eighth pole. I felt real good at the wire.”
Belvoir Bay returned $31.60 to win, $14.40 to place, and $7.60 to show. Om brought back $13.80 to place and $7.60 to show, while Shekky Shebaz paid $5.60 to show.
