Belvoir Bay Gives Miller Third Straight BC Turf Sprint
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Belvoir Bay wins the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Park
No matter the year, no matter the horse, the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) continues to be won by trainer Peter Miller. After training Stormy Liberal to back-to-back victories in 2017-18, the trainer added a third consecutive score when the 6-year-old mare Belvoir Bay went wire-to-wire Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
As if that wasn't enough, Miller also trained runner-up, Om , who out-nodded Shekky Shebaz by a nose in a place photo, the duo 1 1/4 lengths behind the winner. Of Miller's three participants, only Stormy Liberal disappointed in his bid for a historic three-peat, running eighth after chasing the pace.
It was Miller's second 1-2 finish in the race. His trainees ran that way in 2017 at Del Mar when Stormy Liberal crossed the wire just ahead of Richard's Boy. This was Miller's fifth Breeders' Cup victory.
His training skill was on display in his preparation of Gary Barber's Belvoir Bay, the lone female in the 12-horse field lined up for the 12th running of the Turf Sprint. She was fit and fresh for her first start in nearly five months after finishing fourth in the June 8 Jaipur Invitational Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park and busted away from her outside post. Racing uncontested on the lead, Belvoir Bay was never in danger of being caught under Javier Castellano.
Jockey Javier Castellano greets trainer Peter Miller after winning aboard Belvoir Bay
"It looked like the other speed, Pure Sensation, didn't get away from there good," Miller said. "When we made the lead like that, I didn't look at the fractions because I know this filly—she's tough as nails. She's 900 pounds soaking wet and all heart. She's unbelievable."
Miller credited his success in the Turf Sprint to Barber and other owners who have entrusted him with talented horses to prepare.
"Honestly, without the horses, I can't do it," he said. "I'm just thankful that I've been given the opportunity the last three years to train some very good horses."
After establishing quick splits of :21.47 and :43.43, Belvoir Bay hit the wire with five furlongs in :54.83, a course record. She returned $31.60 for a $2 wager.
"This horse just rocketed out of the gate, and the break is so important in these races," said Hall of Famer Castellano, who won his 12th Breeders' Cup race. "She relaxed for me around the turn, and it gave me confidence that we were going to win."
The fact Belvoir Bay was even competing Saturday was miraculous. Long stabled at San Luis Rey Downs, she survived the Lilac Fire there in December 2017 that killed 46 horses and sent many others frantically seeking to escape. She went missing for a couple of days, as did others in the chaos.
"Fortunately, she was safe and someone had her, but she was all nicked up," Barber said. "She went to the clinic for two, three weeks. We gave her hyperbaric treatment and really nursed her back."
A 6-year-old daughter of Equiano bred in Britain by Mrs. R. D. Peacock, Belvoir Bay is out of the Rock of Gibraltar mare Path of Peace. She raced last year for Team Valor International and Barber before going through The November Sale at Fasig-Tipton, where Justin Casse, agent, signed for her purchase of $625,000 from the Bluewater Sales consignment. She has raced solely for Barber since.
She is entered in The November Sale again this year, back with Bluewater Sales.
Om and Shekky Shebaz played pace-pressing roles in the Turf Sprint and finished clear of the rest of the pack, 1 3/4 lengths in front of fourth-place Stubbins, the best-performing closer in the race. Pure Sensation, the 7-2 favorite who broke last, was fifth.
Imprimis, Leinster, Stormy Liberal, Final Frontier, Totally Boss, Eddie Haskell, and Legends of War completed the order of finish.