Bow Bells Dominates in Twin Lights

Michel Tabor’s Bow Bells made a powerful move for the lead around the far turn before reporting home a nearly five length winner of the $60,000 Twin Lights Stakes as Besilu Stables’ Indian Spell held on by a head to capture the $60,000 Miss Woodford Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday before a crowd of 12,202.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Bow Bells covered the mile and an eighth over firm turf in 1:47 3/5 and returned $5.80, $3 and $2.60 as the second choice in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.  Post-time favorite Sense to Compete rallied to complete the $13.60 exacta and paid $3 and $2.10.  It was another two lengths back to Parting Kiss, who paid $3.20 to show.

"The pace seemed like it was pretty quick,” said winning jockey Chris DeCarlo, “so we just sat back and bided our time.  Around the turn, I asked her to try to get first run and it worked out.  She put in a real nice run to the wire.”

A daughter of Giant’s Causeway from the Grade 1 winning mare Marylebone, Bow Bells has won three of her four lifetime starts, good for earnings of $91,620.

In the Miss Woodford, Indian Spell was headed by post-time favorite Ju Ju Eyeballs, before coming back on the inside and holding off the late surge of Fully Living to take the stakes event in 1:12 flat for six furlongs over a fast main track.

Trained by Eddie Plesa Jr., Indian Spell returned $35.80 and $8 as the longest shot in the four-horse field.  Fully Living completed the $104.80 exacta and paid $3.80 to place.  Ju Ju Eyeballs checked in third with Frivolity rounding out the field.

“We had the inside post and this filly has plenty of speed so I figured we’d at least be close,” said winning jockey Gabriel Saez.  “I just wanted to ease her around there.  In the stretch, I asked her to go and she really was game.”

A 3-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie, Indian Spell is out of the 2008 champion 3-year-old filly Proud Spell.  She was now won $75,775 for her connections.

Live racing continues at Monmouth Park on Sunday, Sept. 1 – gates open 11:30 a.m., first post 12:50 p.m.