Belle Hill powers to victory in Irish Day Handicap | Emerald Downs

Published 9:17 pm Sunday, June 28, 2015

For the Reporter

Belle Hill unleashed a powerful wide rally and rolled to a four-length victory over Seeking the Light in Sunday’s $50,000 Irish Day Handicap for 3-year-old fillies at Emerald Downs.

Ridden by Leslie Mawing at 118 pounds, Belle Hill ran one mile in 1:36.67 and paid $8.40, $4.80 and $3.40. Larry Ross is the trainer for Aithon Stables LLC.

Belle Hill rallied into contention with powerful strides on the last turn, swept past Seeking the Light into the stretch and drew off to win with complete authority. Purchased for $250,000 as a 2-year-old, Belle Hill is 2-0-1 in four starts with earnings of $49,970, including $27,500 for Sunday’s triumph.

A Kentucky-bred by Sky Mesa-Sealy Hill, Belle Hill is bred to relish longer races.

“She looks like she’ll do anything,” Ross said in the jubilant winner’s circle. “Her family is spectacular.”

Seeking the Light, ridden by Juan Gutierrez at 119 pounds, held second and paid $8.40 and $4.80.

It was two lengths back to Suva Harbor, Joe Steiner riding at 120 pounds, and a $2.80 show payoff.

Citizen Kitty, Ethan’s Baby, Pippa Bou Peep, Hip Ninety Three, Springsprangsprung and Sneaking a Kiss completed the order of finish.

Ethan’s Baby, the 7-to-5 favorite, settled in fourth place early and failed to mount a rally.

Mawing, riding his second stakes winner of the meet and his 34th all-time at Emerald

Downs, said Belle Hill deserves extra credit for Sunday’s win.

“Speed was pretty tough today and I knew there was going to be a lot of speed in here,” he said. “I knew she was capable of lying off the pace because I’ve worked with this horse since day one, and this horse has sheer talent.

“It was just a matter of riding the right race today. Larry (Ross) and I were on the same page; lay off the pace and make one run. When I moved at the three-eighths, I knew I had a lot of horse. I just didn’t want to let any of the other horses get too far out in front of me.”

Notes

Julien Couton had another three-win day — his second straight and sixth of the season — and leads Juan Gutierrez 46-36 in the jockeys’ standings. Couton has ridden multiple winners on 17 of the first 30 cards at the meet. … Couton did get some bad news, however, as the stewards suspended him two days, Sunday, July 5 and Friday, July 10, for causing interference while riding Southfork Pegasus in Saturday’s 10th race. … Leslie Mawing rode two winners including Belle Hill in the Irish Day Handicap. … The late daily double was a Belle affair — Belle Hill in Race 9 to Faye Belle ($11) in Race 10. … Ain’t Tellin ($5.60) became the meet’s sixth three-time winner with a gate-to-wire triumph in race seven for trainer Jim Penney and owner Where We At. A 4-year-old Florida-bred gelding by Lewis Michael, Ain’t Tellin ran one mile in 1:36.87. … Trainer Steve Bullock finished first and second with Copy Begone ($5.40) and Grindstone Shine in Sunday’s second race for 2-year-old fillies. … Live racing resumes Friday with a special first post time of 4:30 p.m. The Carl’s Jr. Fireworks Spectacular follows the nine-race program.