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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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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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‘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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