Bell's the One Resumes Breezing Toward Keeneland Return
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Trainer Neil Pessin with Bell's the One at Keeneland
Grade 1 stakes-winning sprinter Bell's the One recorded her first breeze of the year with a bullet three furlongs in :35 Feb. 3 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. The work was her first since she was third behind champion Gamine and Serengeti Empress in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7.
"A little faster than what we wanted, but it is what it is," said Neil Pessin, who trains the mare for Lothenbach Stables. "She got a little too far behind at the start (of the work), and she figured she'd go ahead and make up the ground."
Last year at 4, the daughter of Majesticperfection developed into one of the better older female dirt sprinters in the country, capturing the Winning Colors Stakes (G3) and Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1), both at Churchill Downs. In the latter race, she nipped Serengeti Empress, who would nose her out of the exacta in the Breeders' Cup behind dominant winner Gamine.
Bell's the One was third last year in the Madison Stakes (G1), which is her first planned race this year. The Madison is a $300,000 contest at seven furlongs April 3 at Keeneland.
"We'll go straight there," Pessin said by telephone from Fair Grounds. "There's really nothing down here. It would probably be a little close to work something in, anyway."