Bella Joy romps as Aqueduct starts inner-track season

NEW YORK (AP) Bella Joy cruised to a 9 1/4 length victory Wednesday in the $57,000 allowance for fillies and mares on opening day of Aqueduct's inner-track season.

Racing will be conducted over the winterized surface for the next four months. The 3-year-old chestnut Bella Joy, trained by Lon Wiggins and ridden by Junior Alvarado, got her second win in 12 starts.

The time was 1:44.76 in the one mile, 70 yard race for New York breds. Bella Joy, the second choice at 2-1, paid $6.20, $3.60 and $2.30.

Brandini was the distant runner-up, returning $8.20 and $3.80. North Eight Street paid $2.30 to show as the 7-5 favorite.