Bell's the One Set for Season Debut in Madison

Neil Pessin has lived every trainer's dream—knock on wood—with Bell's the One  leading into the 2021 season.

Lothenbach Stables' 5-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection  got a much-deserved rest off a third in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland after winning the Sept. 5 Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1), then came back with "no hiccups" over the winter at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Pessin said.

Bell's the One will make her first appearance of the year April 3 in the $300,000 Madison Stakes (G1) back at Keeneland, where she won the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) in 2019. The 2-1 favorite on the morning line, she has two wins and two thirds from five starts over the Lexington oval. She ran third in the 2020 Madison during an abbreviated summer meet held by the track after losing the spring season due to COVID-19. 

"She's doing exceptionally well; couldn't be doing any better," Pessin said. "I turned her out after the Breeders' Cup just because, not for any physical reason. She'd been training all year long even though we didn't get to run as much as we wanted. So I turned her out for six weeks, all planned and scheduled. We've been very fortunate to have not missed a beat."

Bell's the One signaled her readiness to fire fresh off the bench March 28 with a four-furlong bullet in :47 at Fair Grounds, fastest of 47 on the distance at the day. She shipped to Keeneland March 30 and will be reunited with regular rider Corey Lanerie from post 4 in a field of seven. She carries 120 pounds for the seven-furlong test.

"It's always exciting to get one like her back to the races because you know she's going to give you 110% every time, and running in grade 1 races is always a treat, especially at Keeneland," Pessin added. "We just need to hope we get some sort of pace in there. I know there's not much speed; Brad (Cox)'s filly looks like the only speed on paper."

That would be OXO Equine's Mundaye Call , who seeks her first graded score for Cox from post 3 with Florent Geroux in the irons at 8-1 on the morning line. The 4-year-old Into Mischief   filly will also make her first start of the year, having last started in the Oct. 3 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course, where she finished fourth. She was also fourth in the Sept. 4 Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com (G2) at Churchill Downs after putting together a three-race win streak from her maiden score in November of 2019 at Del Mar to an allowance win at Keeneland in July and a win in the Runhappy Audubon Oaks at Ellis Park in August.

Trainer Wesley Ward stretches out black-type winner Kimari , still knocking on the door for her first graded score despite flying the flag twice at Royal Ascot with aplomb. Ten Broeck Farm's 4-year-old Munnings   filly was second in the 2019 Queen Mary Stakes (G2) and runner-up in the 2020 Commonwealth Cup (G1), and has proven her versatility with black-type wins on turf and dirt. She will likely prove dangerous with one start under her girth already this season, a 4 1/4-length romp going 5 1/2 furlongs in the Spring Fever Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Joel Rosario returns to depart post 5 on the 5-2 second choice, who takes her first trip over seven panels, having only run to 6 1/2 previously.

"I'm really looking forward to running Kimari," Ward said. "She ran a big race down there at Oaklawn after shipping in from Florida, and right from that race, that night, she shipped back to Keeneland and has been here ever since. She's had some nice works over the track.

"She ran a 3 on the Ragozin Sheets, a 3-, actually. That was a big number, but it seems like that number didn't even bother her. She's training great. So I'm excited about her." 

A return trip to Royal Ascot could be in the cards for Kimari this season, but her long-term goal is the Breeders' Cup, perhaps even a run against the boys, Ward said. 

Lloyd Madison Farms IVs' Sconsin  won the Eight Belles off a third in the Audubon, and is 3-1 on the morning line for her first start for trainer Greg Foley since a fourth in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The 4-year-old Include   filly leaves post 6 with James Graham aboard.

California shipper Fair Maiden  is the 123-pound highweight for trainer Eoin Harty. Godolphin's homebred 4-year-old Street Boss   filly looks to rebound from an eighth in the Feb. 13 Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Park, where she drifted out and bumped a rival at the half-mile pole, then tired. She won the La Brea Stakes (G1) in December of 2020 going the Madison distance at Santa Anita, and also has the 2019 Catch a Glimpse Stakes on the Woodbine turf to her credit.  

Matriarca's Sanenus , a top-level winner in her native land, also ships in from California for trainer Michael McCarthy. The 5-year-old daughter of Scat Daddy won the Jan. 9 La Canada Stakes (G3) last out at Santa Anita and will have Hall of Famer Javier Castellano aboard from the rail.

Estilo Talentoso  rounds out the field for owner/trainer Juan Arriagada off a runner-up finish in the Feb. 20 Runhappy Barbara Fritchie Stakes (G3) at Laurel Park. The 4-year-old Maclean's Music   filly won the Escena Stakes in August of 2020 going a mile at Gulfstream Park. Jesus Castanon has the call on the 20-1 shot from post 2.