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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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Pegasus World Cup Turf Runner-Up Largent Could Surface In Tropical Turf

Grade 2 winners Largent, unraced since a runner-up finish in the 2021 Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1), and stablemate Mutasaabeq, who captured the 2021 Mucho Macho Man, head a list of 14 horses nominated to the $100,000 Tropical Turf (G3) for 4-year-olds and up going one mile Jan. 8 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

Twin Creeks Racing Stables and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Largent owns four wins and two seconds in six career tries over the Gulfstream turf, including a victory in the 2020 Fort Lauderdale (G2). The multiple stakes winner was beaten a neck in last winter's Pegasus Turf by Colonel Liam, also trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, and shows six works at Palm Beach Downs since late November.

Shadwell Stable's Mutasaabeq, another Pletcher trainee, went to the sidelines after capturing the one-mile Mucho Macho Man on dirt last January at Gulfstream. The Into Mischief colt has raced twice previously on the grass, including a victory in the October 2020 Bourbon (G2) going 1 1/16 miles at Keeneland.

Mutasaabeq worked five furlongs in 1:00.23 Sunday at Palm Beach Downs, the fastest of four horses, in his eighth timed breeze since mid-November.

Another horse nominated off a long layoff is Paradise Farms Corp.'s Bemma's Boy, a 6-year-old Into Mischief gelding that has not raced since his neck victory over Mike Maker-trained stablemate Zulu Alpha, winner of the 2020 Pegasus Turf, in the March 2020 Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream. Bemma's Boy returned to the work tab last September at Ellis Park and has breezed steadily since, his last five coming at Gulfstream.

Maker also nominated Three Diamonds Farm's Field Pass, last out winner of the 1 1/16-mile Seabiscuit Handicap (G2) Nov. 27 at Del Mar. The 4-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid also has four Grade 3 victories to his credit including the Baltimore-Washington International Turf Cup at historic Pimlico Race Course last June, and won the 2020 Dania Beach in his only previous try over the Gulfstream turf.

Also prominent among nominees are 2019 Virginia Derby (G3) winner English Bee, 2020 Fred Hooper (G3) winner Phat Man, and stakes winners Belgrano, Flying Scotsman and Value Proposition.

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Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint Runner-Up Edgeway Dominates Kalookan Queen

With the outcome never in doubt, heavily favored Edgeway was in complete command from her rail post en route to a 1 ¾-length win in Sunday's $75,000 Kalookan Queen Stakes at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif. Trained by John Sadler and ridden to victory by John Velazquez, Edgeway, a 5-year-old mare by Competitive Edge, got 6 ½ furlongs in 1:16.85.

“I watched her run, obviously, she runs really good races,” said Velazquez, who notched his third stakes win of the young meet and who was aboard for the first time on Sunday. “Today, the strategy was to chase them or chase me. I broke (well), let her run to the lead and let them catch me. … When I asked her to run she responded right away, so I'm very proud.”

Most recently second in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar Nov. 6, Edgeway was off at 2-5 in a field of four older fillies and mares and with no show wagering, she paid $2.80 and $2.10.

“That was really good,” said Kosta Hronis, of Hronis Racing, LLC. “She bounced out of the Breeders' Cup really well. I think the plan was to give her a little bit more of a break, but she's been asking to run, John (Sadler) had her all trained up and ready to go. It's an honor to have John (Velazquez). Any time we can have jockeys like this on the West Coast, we're always happy to see that.”

Out of the Stormin Fever mare Magical Solution, Edgeway, who took the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes two races back on Aug. 20, is now a two-time stakes winner. With the winner's share from today's win of $47,160, she increased her earnings to $596,360.

Merneith, who had been idle for Bob Baffert since winning the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes Feb. 13, stalked the winner to the top of the lane, but was unable to keep up when Edgeway opened up three lengths turning for home. Ridden by Edwin Maldonado, she kept to her task and finished 5 ½ lengths clear of Stellar Sound while paying $2.40 to place.

Fractions on the race were 22.15, 44.96 and 1:09.95.

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Falcone Giving Maiden Beauty Short Break After Quick Turnaround Win

Trainer Robert Falcone Jr. continued his hot streak when John Grossi's Racing Corp.'s Maiden Beauty notched a gate-to-wire victory off 11 days' rest in the $100,000 Bay Ridge on December 30 at Aqueduct in Ozone Park, N.Y.

Falcone has hit the board with nine of his last 10 starters dating back to December 11 at the Big A, posting a record of 4-3-2, including a pair of wins with Maiden Beauty along with scores by Hoopla and Castle Chaos.

The 28-year-old conditioner said he has the one-mile $100,000 Biogio's Rose for older New York-bred fillies and mares on March 6 at the Big A in mind for Maiden Beauty.

The 6-year-old Revolutionary bay mare was claimed by Falcone for $45,000 in June and made her first start for new connections when second in the restricted Saratoga Dew on August 12 at Saratoga. She arrived at the nine-furlong Bay Ridge off a one-turn mile allowance optional claiming win on December 19 at Aqueduct.

Falcone admitted some concern with the quick turnaround.

“It's always concerning, especially when you consider her past performances before I had her,” Falcone said. “She had never run back that quickly, but as long as they're eating up and doing well, which she was, you've got to take a shot sometimes. Even though it was quick back, she came out of the race really well.”

Falcone said the option of remaining around one turn at seven furlongs in today's La Verdad was possible but that the mare's front-running style suited the Bay Ridge. Six of Maiden Beauty's nine lifetime wins were captured when leading at every point of call, including her last four victories.

“There's a lot that goes into picking your spots, especially stakes,” Falcone said. “We had talked about it. When she gets to the lead, she gets so brave. We figured we had an easier time going a mile and an eighth, than seven eighths so that was a big factor.”

Because of the quick turnaround, Falcone said he will go easy on Maiden Beauty for the time being.

“I'll let her tell me,” Falcone said. “She ran quick back, so she'll get some time in between. Our main goal would be the Biogio's Rose from here, but she could run in February if it's the right time.”

Falcone spoke volumes of owner John Grossi, complimenting his knowledge and understanding of the sport of horse racing.

“He's one of those owners that knows and understands the game. He's intelligent and supports the game very heavily,” Falcone said. “He breeds some of his own horses, he claims horses. We went to California last year and he was game to do that. He's easy to work with and understands the whole game. He's a great guy, he brings his granddaughter around the barn and she loves it. It's great to see young people getting involved.”

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