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Bella Sofia Takes On Elders in Gallant Bloom

The once-defeated 3-year-old filly Bella Sofia (Awesome Patriot) looms a short-priced favorite facing four older females in Sunday's GII Gallant Bloom H. at Belmont Park.

A smashing 11 1/4-length winner of a local six-furlong maiden May 6, the $20,000 OBS June graduate yielded late to be second to then-unbeaten Australasia (Sky Kingdom) in the June 6 Jersey Girl S. The dark bay returned to winning ways, scoring by 6 1/2 length in a first-level allowance over this surface July 11 and came from just off a moderate tempo to dust her peers by 4 1/4 lengths in the GI Longines Test S. at Saratoga Aug. 7.

“The Test was a huge, huge win for us, because we don't have these kinds of horses in the barn,” said trainer Rudy Rodriguez. “To win a Grade I at Saratoga, especially a prestigious race like the Test, everything was amazing. We're still dreaming.”

The progressive Lake Avenue (Tapit) hopes to end an unlucky streak of seconditis while giving her younger rival two pounds Sunday afternoon. The 2019 GII Demoiselle S. heroine, the daughter of dual Grade I winner Seventh Street (Street Cry {Ire}) took out the one-mile Heavenly Prize Invitational S. earlier this year, but has rounded out the exacta in the GIII Bed O'Roses S., the GII Honorable Miss S. and the GI Ballerina H. in her three most recent starts.

Don't Call Me Mary (El Padrino) handed Chub Wagon (Hey Chub) her first career defeat in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial S. at Parx Aug. 23, a performance that looks a bit better within the context of Chub Wagon's bounce-back victory in Saturday's Roamin Rachel S. on the Pennsylvania Derby undercard in suburban Philly.

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Run for the Ribbons to Hold Florida Thoroughbred Expo

Run for the Ribbons (RFTR), a charitable organization which focuses on Thoroughbred aftercare, will host the 5th annual Florida Thoroughbred Transformation Expo at the Florida Horse Park. The Expo, which will be held Dec. 10-12, features the disciplines of dressage, working ranch, show jumper, show hunter, eventing, polo, and freestyle, as well as a “Parade of Thoroughbreds.” Vendors, seminars, and demonstrations will also be a part of each day. There is no cost to attend as a spectator.

Prize money and ribbons will be awarded. RFTR is a Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.)-sponsored show. Entries are open until Oct. 31 with all proceeds going to RFTR to fund retraining and rehoming programs. For more information, visit runfortheribbons.org.

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Letter to the Editor: Jason Wilson

I am writing with respect to the September 22, 2021 article New Face in the Keeneland Sales Ring. The article invoked the same feelings that I had the first time I went to one of the sales. In the days leading up to this first foray, my colleagues talked up the sales and the good times that they had watching horses sell for more than seven figures and attending the ancillary events that were part of the experience. I went into the arena on that day with high expectations, but immediately felt that something was not right. It took me awhile to figure it out and then it hit me–all of the humans in the auction ring were black and all of the auctioneers and attendees were white. I did not stay long.

I understand this is a complicated issue. On the one hand, I congratulate Ms. Hobgood on her new role at Keeneland. It is always good to see people in places where they have historically been denied roles. On the other hand, it is incredible that Keeneland has traditionally had a team of African American men as ringmen. Horse racing fosters interaction between people from all types of backgrounds, but it is remarkable how segregated the jobs are. It would seem by design that certain roles go to people from certain backgrounds. Now that the ringmen (and women) are no longer exclusively African American, I hope that African Americans gain opportunities in other roles at the sales company.

I am looking forward to the day when hiring decisions such as these are not newsworthy. To that end, I've been working with the Ed Brown Society to help develop connections between racing organizations and African American communities to foster more diversity in the sport. It is my sincere belief (based on research from leading workforce experts such as McKinsey & Co.) that the sport will not be able to grow without an intentional approach to attracting a more diverse fan base and workforce. It is also incumbent upon us to provide environments where people are comfortable and foster advancement for people from different backgrounds.

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Sept. 26 Insights

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency

HALF-SISTER TO ESSENTIAL QUALITY DEBUTS AT CHURCHILL

8th-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 4:22 p.m.

Brad Cox and Godolphin unveils a half-sister to their champion colt Essential Quality (Tapit) Sunday in FAMED (Uncle Mo). A Eclipse winner at two, Essential Quality has captured a quartet of Grade I races, most recently taking the GI Runhappy Travers S. Aug. 28. Their GSP dam Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality) is a half-sister to champion juvenile filly and dual Grade I winner Folklore (Tiznow). This is also the family of GISW Come Dancing (Malibu Moon) and Japanese champion Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). TJCIS PPs

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