Belle Gallantey Leads Affectionately Field

New Year's Day at Aqueduct Racetrack will feature the $100,000 Affectionately at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up, which drew a graded stakes caliber field led by multiple Grade 1 winner Belle Gallantey.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez for Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, Belle Gallantey enters the Affectionately off a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff on October 31 at Santa Anita Park. One start prior, the daughter of After Market cruised to an 8 ¼-length victory in the Grade 1 Beldame Invitational at Belmont Park.

Also in 2014, Belle Gallantey took the Grade 1, 1 ¼-mile Delaware Handicap by 2 ¾ lengths over Princess of Sylmar, and was beaten by 1 ¾ lengths in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont. Through 44 career starts, the bay mare has compiled a record of 9-12-7, with earnings in excess of $1 million.

Belle Gallantey will break from post 9 with regular rider Jose Ortiz aboard, and is the 7-5 morning-line favorite.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin will send out a talented entry of Penwith and Divided Attention, who are both owned by Godolphin Racing and sit at 3-1 on the morning line. Penwith flashed potential as a 2-year-old, finishing third in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct, but was disappointing at the start of her 3-year-old campaign.

Rounding out the field are Simply Spectacular and Mylitta, an entry trained by Michael Wilson; Shayjolie, runner-up in the Comely; America, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott for celebrity chef Bobby Flay; Agawa, who an off-the-turf optional claimer in her most recent start; and Moment in Dixie, third in the Grade 3 Go For Wand at Aqueduct in her last start.

Source: NYRA Communications