Bellamy Road’s Victoria’s Wildcat ran down dueling leaders to win the $118,800 Eight Belles S. (G3) for 3-year-old fillies by 2-1/4 lengths on Friday, May 6 at Churchill Downs. The winner’s share of the purse moved Bellamy Road into the top spot among second crop sires. Besides Victoria’s Wildcat, Bellamy Road is also represented by Toby’s Corner, winner of the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, and Zoebear, second in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby.
The Eight Belles was the debut in stakes competition for Victoria’s Wildcat, who won for the second time in three races at Churchill Downs.
Trained by Bob Hess for the partnership of Bob and Victoria Bayer and Jonathan Metcalf, Victoria’s Wildcat was last of ten after a quarter mile and had just one horse beat halfway around the turn. Jockey Kent Desormeaux commenced a three wide move near the top of the lane and closed strongly in the final furlong to win going away. She covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:23.03.
“This is what we always thought we had, and it has finally all came together,” said winning trainer Bob Hess. “She’s going to be a neat filly the rest of the year and next year. She’s very healthy. We’ll sit down and talk about what’s next – maybe something in New York or here.”
Added Desormeaux, “She got it going and in the end it unfolded just like I’d hoped. It helps when you’ve got the horse to do it. It’s like going for that hole and having the hole go faster than you. Today we were fast enough to get right on through.”
The victory was worth $69,973 and increased Victoria’s Wildcat’s earnings to $151,571 with a record of 7-3-1-0. Victoria’s Wildcat, a Kentucky-bred filly, is out of the Woodman mare Flaming Mirage, scored her first career victory last fall in a Churchill Downs allowance race and has now won three consecutive races.
