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Irish-Bred Bellabel Wins U.S. Debut In Santa Anita’s Blue Norther Stakes

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

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‘Legend In The Making’: Prat Gets Six Wins, Four Seconds From 10 New Year’s Day Mounts

John Velazquez held a 9-3 advantage in Santa Anita's jockeys' race three days into the meet, but that seemingly large lead dissipated at the Arcadia, Calif., track on Saturday when perennial leader Flavien Prat won six races, closing the gap to 10-9 in a virtual blink.

Prat had mounts in all 10 races, delighting any place parlay players supporting him, as he was second in his other four rides.

The feat was no surprise to those who have watched the 29-year-old Frenchman ply his trade in earnest here since 2015.

Velazquez has registered his 10 victories from 22 mounts, a 45 percent winning average, with purse earnings of $743,850.

Prat has 29 mounts for a 31 percent winning average, with purse earnings of $795,000.

“What can you say?” pondered Doug O'Neill, who has given Prat a leg up on many a winner, including his 3-year-old star of 2021, Hot Rod Charlie, scheduled to leave Jan. 17 for the $12 million World Cup on March 26 in Dubai, where he will have one prep race at Meydan Racecourse before the World Cup.

“Flavien is so good,” O'Neill said. “I've been around here since the 80's with Shoemaker, McCarron and all the legends. Prat is still young with a big future.

“I think we're looking at a legend in the making.”

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As Time Goes By Much Best In Santa Anita’s La Canada

With a well-meant Park Avenue providing a target from the opening bell in Saturday's Grade 3, $200,000 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., heavily favored As Time Goes By stalked her to the far turn, took command a quarter mile from the money and prevailed in a thoroughly dominant New Year's Day performance, winning by 13 ½ lengths as Flavien Prat notched his second consecutive stake win and his fifth overall on the day. Prat added a sixth win the day's finale.

Conditioned by Bob Baffert, who got his second stakes win of the day and who was available via telephone from the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, As Time Goes By got 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.31.

A winner of a pair of G2 stakes at Santa Anita early last year, As Time Goes By, a 5-year-old mare by American Pharoah, came off a facile 1 ¼-length win in the G3 Bayakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos Dec. 5 and was off as the 3-5 favorite in a field of five older fillies and mares and paid $3.20, $2.20 and $2.10.

“This filly keeps getting better and better with age,” said Baffert. “I'm really excited. She has always been a barn favorite of mine. She's got that American Pharoah temperament. They seem to be late bloomers and she is getting better all the time. I am expecting big things from her from here. She will stay here, and I think the Grade 1 Beholder would be next for her.”

On the strength of two recent wins, Park Avenue, trained by John Sadler, was off as the second choice at 7-2 with Juan Hernandez and paid $3.20 and $2.20 while finishing 4 ¼ lengths in front of Moonlight d'Oro.

Ridden by Mike Smith, Richard Mandella's Moonlight d'Oro was the third choice at 7-2 and paid $2.10 to show while finishing 2 ¾ lengths clear of longshot Fi Fi Pharoah.

Fractions on the race were 23.46, 47.00, 1:11.46 and 1:37.27.

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Baltas Hunting For Grade 1 After Luck’s Impressive Victory In Robert J. Frankel

Ridden confidently, LNJ Foxwoods' homebred Luck, whose dam is a half sister to the legendary Goldikova, rallied with ferocity leaving the quarter pole and easily took Santa Anita's Grade 3, $100,000 Robert J. Frankel Stakes on Saturday under Flavien Prat, winning in-hand by 3 ¼ lengths. Trained by Richard Baltas, Luck, a 5-year-old mare by Kitten's Joy, got 1 1/8 miles on turf listed as “good” in 1:48.26.

Next to last at the rail leaving the clubhouse turn, Luck was unhurried in the run up the backside but Prat stepped on the gas mid-way around the far turn and she wheeled five-deep at the top of the lane en route to easily gaining command a furlong out and providing Prat with his fourth win on New Year's Day. He would go on to win two more, completing his day with victories aboard As Time Goes By in the G3 La Canada and Riding With Dino in the final race of the day, an allowance/optional claiming event.

Second, beaten a pair of heads in the G3 Red Carpet Handicap and the G1 Rodeo Drive Stakes on Nov. 25 and Oct. 2, Luck, in her fourth stateside start for Baltas, was off as 4-5 favorite in a field of seven older fillies and mares and paid $3.80, $2.80 and $2.10 in what was her first graded stakes win. Out of the Caerleon mare Gold Round, Luck is now 8-4-3-0 and with the winner's share of $60,000, she has earnings of $208,470.

“She's a very special filly,” said Baltas. “She got beat the last time because of the slow fractions. They weren't going too fast today, but she ran liked we knew she was capable of running. We are thankful to have a filly this good and thank the ownership of Jaime Roth and LNJ Foxwoods for this great opportunity. … We have to start looking at a Grade 1 race sooner or later for her.”

English-bred Bodhicitta, who sat third early, outdueled multiple G1 winner Mucho Unusual by a nose for second and paid $6.20 and $3.20 with Kent Desormeaux up at 7-1.

Ridden by John Velazquez, Mucho Unusual made the lead very briefly at the furlong pole and just missed the place, while finishing 2 ¾ lengths in front of pacesetter Moraz. Off as the second choice at 3-1, Mucho Unusual paid $2.40 to show.

Fractions on the race were 24.38, 49.26, 1:12.50 and 1:36.71.

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