Sam Houston: Bellamore, Dynadrive triumph in graded stakes
After 12 unsuccessful tries, Bellamore finally got her first stakes win Saturday when Stewart Elliott rallied her to a neck victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic at Sam Houston Race Park.
It was the 6-year-old Empire Maker mare’s first start for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the 1 1/16-mile race for the third straight year and a record-extending fifth time overall. Asmussen did it in 2022 and 2023 with Pauline’s Pearl. Elliott rode the winner for the second consecutive year.
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Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellamore (5-2) made the first turn racing sixth in the field of seven older fillies and mares. Never more than 1 3/4 lengths behind at any call, the 6-year-old Empire Maker mare moved up to third in the far turn, went four wide into the homestretch and finally overcame pacesetter Free Like a Girl (6-1) just before the wire.
Free Like a Girl finished second, 4 3/4 lengths better than third-place Corningstone (9-1). Dear Lady (7-2), Perfect Wish (28-1), 2023 runner-up Hidden Connection (6-5) and Appropriated Funds (29-1) were fourth through seventh in that order.
Bellamore had a winning time of 1:46.24 following early fractions of 24.05, 48.92, 1:13.88 and 1:39.71 on the main track that was rated good. She paid $7.00, $3.40 and $3.60; Free Like a Girl $6.60 and $4.40; and Corningstone $3.80.
Dynadrive stalks, pounces to win Connally
Usually a deep closer, Dynadrive stalked the early pace during a ground-saving ride from Rey Gutiérrez before going two wide in the stretch on the way to winning by 3 3/4 lengths in the $200,000 John B. Connally Turf Cup (G3).
The victory for the 7-year-old Temple City gelding gave trainer Mike Maker his eighth triumph in the 1 1/2-mile turf race. That record was built mostly during a six-year streak of wins between 2015 and 2019.
Dynadrive (5-1) followed pacesetter Ocelot (8-1) around a yielding course, all the while chasing slow fractions of 25.56, 51.70, 1:18.32, 1:44.18 and 2:09.82.
It was just after the top of the homestretch where Dynadrive overtook 6-year-old gelding Ocelot, who settled for a second-place finish in the field of nine. Red Run (3-1) took third followed in order by Palazzi (9-5), Sword Zorro (42-1), Catch That Party (5-2), Seductive U S A (41-1), Singapore Flash (14-1) and Summer Lover (47-1).
Dynadrive had a winning time of 2:34.00. He paid $13.80, $5.60 and $4.40. Ocelot returned $7.40 and $5.40. Red Run paid $3.40 to show.
Claimed in August at Saratoga for $62,500 by Kirk Wycoff’s Three Diamonds Farm, Dynadrive most recently finished last in the 1 1/4-mile Canadian International (G1) on Oct. 8 at Woodbine. His most recent win before Saturday came in the 2022 Lure at Saratoga.