Belvoir Bay wins La Cienegas Stakes

San Luis Rey Training Center mare Belvoir Bay won the Las Cienegas Stakes race Jan. 12 at Santa Anita Park.

Belvoir Bay had a winning time of 1 minute 15.06 seconds in the 6 1/2-furlong race for fillies and mares 4 years old and upward. She finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of second-place Lady Suebee.

“She ran really well,” trainer Peter Miller said.

Miller wasn’t surprised by Belvoir Bay’s win but didn’t expect the margin of victory to be as much as it was.

“The race was originally supposed to be on the turf, and because of the rain they put it on the main track,” he said. “We weren’t sure how she’d handle the mud, but she seemed to like it just fine.”

The switch from the turf course to the dirt track led to four horses being scratched from the race, leaving a field of four. Miller also trains Painting Corners, who finished fourth in the race 8 1/2 lengths behind Belvoir Bay and five lengths in back of third-place Compelled.

The change in the course didn’t alter the instructions Miller gave to jockey Flavien Prat.

“She ran the same tactical race she usually does,” Miller said. “He gave her a perfect ride.”

Belvoir Bay broke second. After the first quarter-mile she was third, 1 1/2 lengths behind second-place Painting Corners and two lengths behind Lady Suebee, who had the lead at that point. Half a mile into the race Belvoir Bay was second, half a length in back of Lady Suebee and two lengths in front of Painting Corners, who was in third after being overtaken by Belvoir Bay.

When Belvoir Bay entered the stretch 1:08.25 after the start of the race she led Lady Suebee by a length.

“Around the quarter pole, it looked like we had the race won,” Miller said.

Belvoir Bay is owned by Gary Barber and was foaled in Great Britain April 19, 2013. Equiano, her sire, was born in France while Belvoir Bay’s dam, Path of Peace, was foaled in England. Miller has trained Belvoir Bay since her first California race, which was a win in the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita Dec. 27, 2015.

The Jan. 12 race was the eighth stakes race win for Belvoir Bay, all with Miller, and her 10th overall win in 23 starts including two victories in England.

Miller and Barber are considering their options for Belvoir Bay’s next race.