Qb Sneak and Solar Lady delivered a memorable conclusion to the Grade III Glen Cove on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Belmont, crossing the finish together in 1:20.61 over seven furlongs of firm turf. Qb Sneak, representing Bears Stable and ridden by Alvarado J, rallied from the rear portion of the six-horse field at odds of around 9/2. Solar Lady, representing Maxmillion Farm with Zayas E J aboard, produced her own late advance at just under even money. Neither filly could be separated at the finish, leaving both connections to celebrate a shared graded-stakes victory.

Race Recap

The $200.000 Glen Cove brought together six three-year-old fillies, with the early running controlled by Ava Gardner and the outcome ultimately decided by two runners who had been positioned behind the leaders.

Ava Gardner established the pace and maintained her advantage through the first three calls. Shes So Pretty provided the closest early opposition, while Lady Jane Grey occupied third during the opening stages.

As the field progressed, Missing Dress began improving her position, Solar Lady remained within striking distance, and Qb Sneak gradually worked her way forward.

The decisive change came in the final portion of the contest. Ava Gardner’s advantage disappeared as Qb Sneak and Solar Lady advanced from behind, both reaching the finish together for a dead heat.

Ava Gardner held third, followed by Missing Dress, Shes So Pretty, and Lady Jane Grey.

The final time was 1:20.61, with the track listed as firm. No horses were scratched.

The Running — Flow & Calls

First Call

Ava Gardner took command immediately, leading by one length under Da Silva F H. Shes So Pretty tracked in second, also holding a one-length advantage over the next runner.

Lady Jane Grey occupied third, followed by Solar Lady in fourth. Missing Dress was fifth, with Qb Sneak sixth.

At this stage, the eventual joint winners were positioned fourth and sixth, while Ava Gardner had established a clear early advantage.

Second Call

Ava Gardner continued to dictate the pace, retaining her one-length lead. Shes So Pretty remained second, and Lady Jane Grey continued in third.

Missing Dress made the first notable positional improvement, moving from fifth into fourth. Solar Lady slipped from fourth to fifth, while Qb Sneak remained sixth.

Although the first three positions were unchanged, the movement behind them began to alter the order of the chasing group.

Third Call

Ava Gardner was still in front, holding a one-length advantage and maintaining the lead she had established from the outset.

Missing Dress advanced into second after racing fifth at the first call, becoming the leader’s closest pursuer. Shes So Pretty dropped from second to third.

Solar Lady improved from fifth to fourth, placing herself ahead of Lady Jane Grey, who had fallen from third to fifth.

Qb Sneak also began her advance, moving from sixth to fifth in the running-line sequence? No—the chart records her in sixth at this call, with the final advance still to come.

The order at the third call was Ava Gardner, Missing Dress, Shes So Pretty, Solar Lady, Lady Jane Grey, and Qb Sneak.

Final Call

The closing stages transformed the race.

Qb Sneak advanced from sixth at the third call to a share of first, making the largest positional gain in the field during the final segment. Solar Lady likewise accelerated from fourth to join her at the finish.

Ava Gardner, who had led at every preceding call, yielded the advantage but retained third.

Missing Dress, second at the third call, finished fourth. Shes So Pretty slipped from third to fifth, while Lady Jane Grey completed the field in sixth.

The official result recorded Qb Sneak and Solar Lady as dead-heat winners, each timed in 1:20.61.

Each Runner Mentioned

Qb Sneak — Dead-Heat First

Qb Sneak was sixth at each of the first three calls before producing a decisive final advance to share the victory. Her late improvement carried her past the entire field and into a dead heat with Solar Lady.

Solar Lady — Dead-Heat First

The post-time favorite raced fourth at the first call, fifth at the second, and fourth at the third before finishing in a dead heat for first. Her closing effort secured a share of the victory after she had remained behind the early leaders throughout the preceding calls.

Ava Gardner — Third

Ava Gardner led by one length at each of the first three calls and appeared to have the race under control for much of the contest. She was overtaken in the final stages but maintained third place, finishing in 1:20.75.

Missing Dress — Fourth

Missing Dress improved from fifth at the first call to fourth at the second and second at the third. Despite being the longest-priced runner in the field, she mounted a meaningful challenge before losing ground in the closing stages and finishing fourth in 1:20.78.

Shes So Pretty — Fifth

Shes So Pretty occupied second through the first two calls, then third at the next. She was unable to maintain that prominent position in the final stages and finished fifth in 1:21.03.

Lady Jane Grey — Sixth

Lady Jane Grey raced third at both the first and second calls before dropping to fifth at the third. She finished sixth in 1:21.06, completing a difficult final portion of the contest.

Winning Connections & Pedigree

For Bears Stable, the Glen Cove represented another successful chapter for the homebred Qb Sneak. The chestnut three-year-old filly is by Red By Alliance(1) out of Sneaky Two, and was bred in New Mexico by Bears Stable. Her career record now stands at 14 starts, seven victories, two seconds, and two thirds, with lifetime earnings of $241.920. Alvarado J partnered her in this victory.

For Maxmillion Farm, Solar Lady added another graded-stakes achievement to an already accomplished turf campaign. The chestnut filly is by Solar System out of Crypto Lady(1) and was bred in California by LionKing Stables. Her career record stands at nine starts, four victories, four seconds, and one third, with lifetime earnings of $668.340. Zayas E J was aboard for the dead-heat victory.

Both owner/trainers emerged with a share of the Glen Cove title, an uncommon outcome that rewarded two distinctly different closing efforts.

Final Assessment

The Glen Cove will be remembered for the contrasting paths taken by its two winners. Qb Sneak remained at the rear through the third call before sweeping forward, while Solar Lady worked into contention from a more forward position and completed her challenge at precisely the same moment.

Ava Gardner supplied the early pace, Missing Dress briefly emerged as a serious pursuer, and the closing stages belonged entirely to the two fillies who could not be separated.

For Bears Stable and Maxmillion Farm, the result was a shared Grade III triumph—and a reminder that even after seven furlongs of competition, the difference between victory and defeat can be too small to measure.

Track: Firm
Time: :23  :46  1:09¹  1:20³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 4 Paid 3.70, 4 – 3 Paid 6.40
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 4 – 5 Paid 15.10, 4 – 3 – 5 Paid 13.20

Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES