Belle Hill capped her 3-year-old filly dominance with a flourish Saturday at Emerald Downs.
The regally bred daughter of Sky Mesa-Sealy Hill romped to a an easy five-length victory in the $65,000 Washington Oaks, running 1 1/8 miles in a fast 1:48.11.
The runaway victory, combined with earlier wins in the Irish Day and Kent Handicaps, clinched honors for Belle Hill as the track’s champion 3-year-old filly of 2015.
Ridden by Leslie Mawing at 120 lbs, Belle Hill paid $3.40, $3 and $2.20. Larry Ross is the winning trainer for Aithon Stables LLC (James and Mary Beth Holt-Perkins of Issaquah, Wash.)
In fourth place early, Belle Hill swept past Suva Harbor on the last turn and poured it on late, turning the race it into a rout and hinting at greater things to come.
“I’m just very happy to be on a horse of this caliber,” Mawing said in a jubilant winner’s circle. “I’ve been high on her from the beginning.”
A $250,000 purchase, Belle Hill has developed quickly for her connections. Unraced as a 2-year-old, she broke her maiden in April at Golden Gate Fields, and is now 4-0-1 in six starts including three straight stakes at Emerald Downs.
The victory, worth $35,750, increased her earnings to $113,220.
Suva Harbor, ridden by Joe Steiner at 120 lbs, took command on the backstretch while leading through six furlongs in 1:11.04, but was no match for the winner through the lane. Suva Harbor, in-the-money in all four starts of the sophomore filly series, paid $4.60 and $3.80.
Rastanora, a maiden ridden by Gallyn Mitchell at 120 lbs, rallied from last to finish third and paid $2.80.
Ambleside Park, Perhaps a Pie, Ethan’s Baby and Cup of Soup completed the order of finish.
Belle Hill is the first triple stakes winner of the meet, and Mawing and Ross have combined for five stakes wins this season—three with Belle Hill and two with Stryker Phd, the 6-year-old Bertrando gelding bidding to become a two-time Longacres Mile winner on Sunday, August 16.
NOTES: Saturday’s $18,800 sub-feature developed into one of the meet’s most exciting races, with the resurgentCoach Royal ($4.60) fending off Emerald Racing Club’s Charlie Thomas by a neck in a suspenseful stretch run. Ridden by Francisco Duran, Coach Royal ran one mile in 1:35.46—second fastest of the meet—and became the meet’s first five-time winner. A 6-year-old Lemon Drop Kid gelding co-owned by trainer Howie Gibson and Jeff and Teresa Lynd, Coach Royal has climbed from the $2,500 claiming basement to Saturday’s victory for a $25,000 claiming price. . .Mawing rode three winners on the 10-race card, his sixth triple of the season. . .Rocco Bowenrode two winners for his third straight multiple-win day. . .Vince Gibson was the only trainer with two wins Saturday. . .Veteran jockey Connie Doll rode her first Thoroughbred winner of the meet in Saturday’s seventh race, guiding I’m Shootin High to a $38.40 upset for trainer Marcie Riley. Doll also rode the Don’s Corona mare to her maiden victory at 18-to-1 on August 24, 2013. . .Live racing continues Sunday with the $65,000 Emerald Downs Derby at 1 1/8 miles, with Prime Engine the 9-to-5 morning line favorite in the field of eight 3-year-old colts and geldings.
–##–
