Ladies 'Cap: Belle Gallantey Seeks Turnaround

After opening the season with a fifth-place finish in the Affectionately Handicap, two-time grade I winner Belle Gallantey will try to bounce back in her second start of the year Jan. 31 in the Ladies Handicap on the inner track at Aqueduct Racetrack.

In the $100,000 Ladies, Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables’ Belle Gallantey will try to return to the form that saw her win last year’s Beldame Stakes (gr. I) and Delaware Handicap (gr. I). When the 6-year-old daughter of After Market starts in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race for older fillies and mares, she will try to improve on her Affectionately effort when she chased Penwith from second into the stretch before fading to fifth as the 3-5 choice.

The Affectionately marked former claimer Belle Gallantey’s first start since finishing ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (gr. I) Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park to close out her 2014 campaign. Belle Gallantey has breezed twice since the Affectionately for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, including a five-furlong bullet move in 1:02.12 Jan. 22 at Aqueduct.



"Maybe she needed a race [in the Affectionately]; I'm hoping she comes back to what she is," Rodriguez said. "I know she can compete with these horses, she just has to bring her 'A' race back."

The Ladies field also features Godolphin Stables' Penwith, who set the pace before finishing second to America in the Affectionately, and Sean Shay’s Shayjolie, who finished fourth in that race. Also entered are Moment in Dixie off a runner-up finish in the Wintergreen Stakes Jan. 3 at Turfway Park, and Holiday's Jewel, who won an allowance/optional claiming race Dec. 28 at Aqueduct.