Snowbell Rolls On to Comely Victory

Trained by Tom Albertrani, and part of a three-horse entry for Godolphin Racing, Snowbell went straight to the front under jockey Luis Saez, leading her eight competitors through an opening quarter-mile in an easy 25.02 seconds, with the half going in 50.97 and three-quarters in 1:16.22. 

On the final turn, with Shayjolie and Dame Dorothy taking aim, Snowbell opened up in the stretch to win by 2 ¼ lengths. Her final time was 1:52.59 for 1 1/8 miles.

"I know she likes the front, and the only other speed was part of the entry," said Saez. "I took the lead, and waited to see what would happen. At the half-mile, I knew I still had a lot of horse, and when I asked her in the stretch, she came on very well."

A gray filly by Tapit out of Burmilla, Snowbell's win returned $5.70 on a $2 win wager.

With three victories in eight starts for her career, and second straight following an 8 ½-length win in an optional claiming race on October 5 at Belmont Park, Snowbell increased her career earnings to $373,490. 

"We were hopeful that we would be able to get the lead; just judging from the track it seemed like a good place to be - on the front end," said Godolphin's racing manager, Jimmy Bell. "She's a filly that [has] obviously shown that she has that front-running speed, which is always dangerous. The fractions were kind and every step was a good step." 

Shayjolie was second, followed by Dame Dorothy, Penwith, Catchmydrift, Divided Attention, House Rules, and Flipcup.