Bell's the One puts away rival Sconsin to win Roxelana
Bell’s the One, winner of the Derby City Distaff (G1) last September, ran down favored rival Sconsin in deep stretch to prevail by three-quarters of a length in Saturday’s 11th running of the Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Bell’s the One, owned by Bob Lothenbach, trained by Neil Pessin and ridden by Corey Lanerie, ran 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:14.90, just 0.56 seconds off Love At Noon’s 2001 track record.
The triumph was worth $67,035, and the first-prize made Bell’s the One horse racing’s newest millionaire. Her career record stands at 18: 8-3-2 with earnings totaling $1,016,825. She has gotten the better of Sconsin in three of their four meetings.
Four Graces, last year’s Dogwood (G3) and Beaumont (G3) winner who was making her first start after an eight-month break, led the field of six fillies and mares through early quarter-mile splits of 22.56 and 45.19 seconds. Jungle Juice was in close pursuit to her outside, two-time graded-stakes winner Sconsin was a length back in third and Bell’s the One another length back in fourth and in the clear while heading into the turn.
Exiting the turn Four Graces, Jungle Juice and Sconsin were three in a line with Bell’s the One making a bold, wide move. Sconsin poked her head in front with three-sixteenths of a mile to run but was quickly met by Bell’s the One at the final furlong marker. Bell’s the One outkicked that rival for her sixth career stakes win.
“We’re proud of her and she ran a good race,” trainer Greg Foley said of the 6-5 favorite Sconsin, who was coming off a victory last month in the Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill Downs. “She got beat today by a nice mare.”
In her previous start, Bell’s the One finished fourth behind champion Gamine, Sconsin and Estilo Talentoso while attempting to defend her Derby City Distaff (G1) title seven weeks ago on Kentucky Derby day.
“Today I let her run a little bit out of the gate, because I didn’t think the pace would be too fast,” Lanerie said. “Then I was sort of in the pocket (inside of Sconsin), and I didn’t really like my spot, because I know she needs to be outside of horses. I took her back from there to make sure I got first run at Sconsin. You could tell she was ready to run a big race, and Neil had her ready to go.”
Bell’s the One returned $6.20, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 2-1 third betting choice.
Sconsin, under Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.60 and $2.10. Miss Mosaic, under Colby Hernandez, rallied to finish third, another 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up, and paid $4 to show at win odds of 26-1.
Four Graces was another 2 3/4 lengths back in fourth and was followed by Shesomajestic and Jungle Juice.
Bell’s the One is a daughter of Majesticperfection out of the Street Cry mare Street Mate and was bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones.
At age 2, Bell’s the One won the Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds. She won the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland at age 3 and the Winning Colors and Derby City Distaff last year at age 4.
“The last four or five days you could tell in her training she was ready to run a big race,” Pessin said. “She got a much better trip today than in her last start. Now, we’ll look to get her ready for the Breeders’ Cup. She’ll likely run in the ‘win and you’re in’ (G2 Thoroughbred Club of America) at Keeneland. I’m not sure yet if I’ll run her once before then or not.”