Backed as the 8-5 favorite in the 6 ½-furlong sprint for fillies and mares, Glorious View was away quickest of all from the rail post and maintained a one-length lead over Spectacular Sky through opening fractions of 22.14 and 45.04 seconds.
After Spectacular Sky capitulated at the top of the stretch, Glorious View faced a new challenge from Fantasy of Flight, who drew within a head of the leader. Glorious View, however, turned back Fantasy of Flight’s bid and went on to prevail by a half-length.
“She tries so hard, it makes things a lot easier for me,” said winning jockey Junior Alvarado.
Glorious View, a 4-year-old daughter of Pleasant Tap, needed eight starts to break her maiden, but has been unbeatable since earning her diploma in February at Aqueduct Racetrack. After her maiden triumph, she added scores in an allowance in March and an optional claimer on April 11, also at Aqueduct. She won all three races by at least five lengths.
“She showed a lot of gameness today,” said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. “She had won her last few races fairly easily, and that’s a pretty nice filly who ran up to her in the stretch.”
Owned and bred by Brant Laue, Glorious View is 4-4-1 in 12 starts. The $120,000 winner’s share of the Vagrancy purse lifted her bankroll to $303,190.
Withgreatpleasure closed to finish third.
This Weekend
On May 25, Belmont Park will host the 55th running of the Grade 2, $200,000 Sheepshead Bay Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 3/8 miles on the turf and present a $300,000 Guaranteed Late Pick 4.
The first Sheepshead Bay Handicap was run in 1894 at the now-defunct Sheepshead Bay Race Track
On Sunday, the Belmont Backyard and picnic area hosts Family Fun Days. The Welcome to the Tropics event features exotic parrots, under the sea inflatable, DJ, karaoke, and hair beading.
The food trucks will be open in the Belmont backyard from 11 a.m. until post time for the last race, which is scheduled for 5:49 p.m. General admission into Belmont Park is $3 and grants full access to all of the food trucks. General parking is free.
The following food trucks are scheduled to participate in the festival (subject to change): Chinese Mirch, La Bella Torta, Mac Truck NYC, Mike N’ Willies, Palenque, Taco Bite, Toum, and Trusty Burgers & Bites.