Bell's the One Takes Derby City Distaff in Photo Finish

Jockey Corey Lanerie gave a triumphant shout aboard Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One just minutes after crossing the wire in the $500,000 Derby City Distaff Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1) Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. After the review of a photo finish with 2019 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Serengeti Empress, the Majesticperfection filly was declared the winner by the whiskers of her nose. 

It was Bellafina who sprang first from the gate at the break. With Hall of Famer Mike Smith in the irons, the filly put the field through their paces in a first quarter mile of :21.95 while pressed by Bellafina and Ce Ce to her outside.

Serengeti Empress, who had made an equally nice start, broke sharply under Tyler Gaffalione and maintained a steady, controlled pace throughout most of the seven-furlong sprint. The Alternation  filly got up over Bellafina to take the lead as the half-mile went in :43.77. 

Serengeti Empress still looked game and in control exiting the turn for home. Then Bell's the One, who had tracked the field just off the inside line, moved up through the midfield in the four path, passed Ce Ce on her inside, and drew on even terms with Serengeti Empress. The pair were head to head all the way to the finish line, and it was unclear who held the advantage. Upon review of the photo by the stewards, Bell's the One was crowned the winner the narrowest margin of a nose. 

The final time was 1:21.07. 

"The race set up just like I thought," said Lanerie. "I was hoping someone would go with Serengeti Empress. I figured Bellafina would press her and Johnny (Velazquez on Ce Ce) would be sitting third in the catbird seat. I thought she might be hard to get by coming off a 1 1/16-mile race, but my filly has her style. I let her stay back there because I know when I call on her, she has a turn of foot like no tomorrow. When I was three or four lengths behind them, I was pretty confident that I was going to run by them pretty easy, but it wasn't so easy. Serengeti Empress fought back. I actually thought she had gotten the bob."

Sally's Curlin got up in the final strides to take third after Ce Ce weakened and dropped back to fourth. Wildwood's Beauty took fifth ahead of Bellafina, who dropped out at the top of the stretch and ended sixth. Shesomajestic completed the order of finish. 

"It was tight," said Gaffalione of his runner-up finish. "When you're battling down the lane like that—head bob, head bob—you don't really know. You just hope for the best. It just wasn't our day. She goes out there and she does her thing and just keeps fighting. She's a tremendous filly. I'm so happy I got to ride her. They got her today, hopefully we can get them next time."

"I think the major players attacked us early, earlier than they would have ordinarily done in a race but they knew that she was the speed," said Tom Amoss. "That made it really difficult on her and when you're laying back and just picking up the pieces and everyone else is doing the dirty work, that can work to your advantage. It was a great horse race and the winner ran great. Make no mistake about it, I couldn't be more proud of my girl. We didn't get it today but she ran her heart out and we'll get one more chance in November (in the Breeders' Cup) at Keeneland."

The Derby City Distaff win improved Bell's the One's record to 7-2-1 from 14 starts. Her increased earnings are $790,040. 

"That was an unbelievable horse race," said winning trainer Neil Pessin, who was doubly elated having achieved his first grade 1 win in the race. "(Trainer) Tom Amoss and I actually joked before the photo came out that we would take a dead heat. This filly had a great trip once again with Corey (Lanerie). He fits this filly so well. She sat behind that really fast pace and was so impressive. I'm so proud of her and so thankful for the owners.

"I've been grade 1-placed but have never had a grade 1 winner. I've had a bunch of grade 2 and grade 3 winners. Never a grade 1. I thought I'd gone by her, and then I thought she came back. I wasn't sure if we'd won, second or dead-heated. It was just too close to call. I knew it was pretty close and I didn't know who won. I was happy whether we'd won or lost. Maybe now she'll get a little respect, because she's never gotten it any time she's run. She tries hard every time. The only times she's ever gotten beat, it was my fault. Not hers."

Bell's the One earned her first graded stakes win for Pessin at 3 when she took the Lexus Raven Run (G2) under Lanerie at Keeneland. She earned another score in 2020 with a running, three-length victory in the May 30 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old bay entered Saturday's Derby City Distaff off a third-place finish in the Madison Stakes (G1) July 11 at Keeneland. 

Pessin said the likely next start for Bell's the One will be the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. 

"I think that's your only choice," said Pessin. "That will be her next race. We gave her two months between her last race and this one and it's another two months to the Breeders' Cup. She does well with the spacing. It sets up good for her and she's won before at seven-eighths at Keeneland in the Raven Run."

Bell's the One was bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones out of the Street Cry mare Street Mate. She was purchased by Lothenbach Stables for $155,000 from the consignment of Brereton Jones to the 2017 Saratoga Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select yearling sale in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. 

This story will be updated.