By Joe Bianca
Stays in Vegas (City Zip) and Be Mine (Twirling Candy) were separated by a dime in price as the top two choices in the GII Honeymoon S. June 19 and will likely be the public's preferred pair again in the GII San Clemente H. Several new shooters, however, will present challenges as 11 3-year-old turf fillies line up to try to separate themselves in a division that is crying out for contenders beyond East Coast-based Catch a Glimpse (City Zip) and Time and Motion (Tapit).
Be Mine was second in the Honeymoon, a head in front of third-place finisher Stays in Vegas. The latter suffered her first loss on grass in that effort, while the former is now two head bobs away from being undefeated on the green herself.
Chief among the dangerous new faces is Belvoir Bay (GB) (Equiano {Fr}). The Team Valor and Gary Barber owned bay was an extremely impressive winner of the Blue Norther S. Dec. 27 at Santa Anita in her first start with Lasix and first outing for the Peter Miller barn, romping by 7 1/4 lengths. Red-hot rider Florent Geroux is slated to fly in for the mount.
Jade Princess (Tapit), a middling dirt runner for seven starts, perked up in her first turf try June 17 at Santa Anita, tracking a quick pace and holding well to be second, earning an 89 Beyer, equal to the tops of the two favorites. Mokat (Uncle Mo) was a dominant winner over course and distance Oct. 31 and gets back to the grass after chasing Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro) home twice on dirt and retreating to finish 13th in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 6.
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