blue norther stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Full of run into the far turn, Irish-bred Bellabel cut a sharp figure in her U.S. debut under Flavien Prat, as she stormed home to win Sunday's $100,000 Blue Norther Stakes by 2 ¼ lengths at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by Phil D'Amato, who collected his third victory on the day, Bellabel got a flat mile on turf in 1:36.86.

Victorious versus winners in an 18-horse field going one mile on turf Sept. 16 in Ireland, Bellabel was well fancied today, but had to settle for second billing in the tote, as her stablemate, fellow Irish-bred Helens Well, was off at even money and finished third.

“She'd shown enough ability where I thought she merited a shot in this race,” said D'Amato, who has developed a number of Irish-breds over the past three years in Southern California. “Hats off to Niles Dalton for finding these gems and Michael (Nentwig, part owner) and the partners for putting up the money. I think I really had this filly about 80 percent fit too, so I think there is definitely room to improve here.”

Off as the 5-2 second choice in a field of six sophomore fillies, Bellabel paid $7.00, $4.60 and $2.20.

Owned by the Benowitz Family Trust, CYBT, Michael Nentwig and Ray Pagano, Bellabel picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing her earnings to $75,435 while running her overall mark to 6-2-1-1.

“We broke quite slow, so I was trying to get going and she responded so well that I actually found myself on the lead a bit sooner than I expected, but once I asked her to make her move, she was there for me,” said Prat, who collected his second win on the Sunday card. “I really liked the way she quickened down the lane. She should have a good future.”

Shoppingforpharoah, who jumped out to the lead under Ricky Gonzalez, battled gamely for second, finishing a half length in front of Helens Well. Off at 9-2, Shoppingforpharoah paid $6.80 and $3.00.

Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Helens Well, who closed much ground as the 2-1 favorite going a mile on turf in the Grade III Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 27, sat a close second today but flattened out through the drive, finishing 4 ¾ lengths better than longshot Fuente Ovejuna and paid $2.10 to show.

Fractions on the race were 24.71, 49.27, 1:13.67 and 1:25.20

The post Irish-Bred Bellabel Wins U.S. Debut In Santa Anita’s Blue Norther Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Irish-bred Quattroelle unleashed an impressive turn of foot the final three sixteenths of a mile and took Thursday's $75,000 Blue Norther Stakes, Santa Anita's final added money event of the year, by three quarters of a length under Tyler Baze. Trained by Jeff Mullins, Quattroelle got a flat mile on turf in 1:35.72.

One of three fillies to exit the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 28, Quattroelle saved ground at the rail into the run to the far turn while about five lengths off the lead. Straightening for home, she angled outside pacesetter Michalska, pinned her ears and held off a stout challenge from favored Javanica to her outside to win in-hand on the wire.

“Her last race, we got kind of got slaughtered a couple of times around the turn, it cost her the race,” said Baze, in reference to Quattroelle's narrow third-place finish in the one mile turf Durante, a race in which Javanica finished second. “She's a nice filly. I don't know how good she is, she is just very nice. She still has a lot of learning. Once I hit the lead, she was pulling herself up all the way down the lane, really just having fun.”

Off at 3-1 in a field of eight sophomore fillies, Quattroelle paid $8.20, $3.60 and $2.60.

Owned by Red Baron's Barn, LLC and Rancho Temescal, LLC, Quattroelle, who broke her maiden going a mile on turf in her U.S. debut on Oct. 3, picked up $46,920 for the win, increasing her earnings to $94,572. Two for three with Mullins, she's now 4-2-0-2.

“She ran great and we weren't surprised,” said Mullins. “She got knocked sideways real bad last time at Del Mar and she should've won. She's a real hard trying filly and she's done everything we've asked her.”

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Javanica, who was a close third while three-deep turning for home, was off as the 9-5 favorite and paid $3.00 and $2.40 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths clear of Carpe Fortuna.

Off at 5-1 with Mario Gutierrez, Carpe Fortuna paid $3.00 to show.

Fractions on the race were 24.06, 48.18, 1:12.37 and 1:24.21.

The post Clean Trip Makes All The Difference For Quattroelle In Blue Norther appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post