Alms flies home to take G3 Matron Stakes

Two-year-old filly Alms maintained her unbeaten record as she produced a withering late run to win the G3 Matron Stakes over six furlongs on turf at Belmont Park, USA, on Saturday, 5 October.

The Michael Stidham-trained daughter of City Zip, successful over the same course and distance on her debut in September, was held up in fifth of the six runners by Jose Lezcano.

She still had four rivals in front of her at the top of the straight but ran on strongly to head Time Limit inside the final half-furlong before quickening away to score by a length and a quarter in 1m 9.30s on firm ground.

Michael Stidham said: “We were delighted with the effort of Alms. We liked her before she made her debut and today justified what we have always thought about her. We came back closer than we would normally do, but this was an opportunity that looked like we shouldn’t pass up.  

“We trained her half-sister Hallie Belle, who stayed an extended mile, and we feel very confident that Alms will also get two turns. Off the back of this race, we may look at running her in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (1m, Santa Anita, Friday, 1 November).”