Improving Estilo Talentoso Prevails in Bed o’ Roses

The skies opened and a deluge of rain poured upon Belmont Park for nearly an hour, delaying the start of the June 4 $300,000 Bed o' Roses Stakes (G3). Once the storm quieted, the field of six fillies and mares took to the sloppy main track for the seven-furlong contest.

The mud bowl didn't faze the Juan Arriagada-trained Estilo Talentoso , who recorded the first graded stakes victory of her career with a determined win in the Bed o' Roses. Despite taking six tries to break her maiden, the daughter of Maclean's Music   continued to improve with every start. In her third effort as a 4-year-old, she emerged as a major player on the filly and mare sprinting scene with an impressive runner-up finish at 50-1 to the speedy Kimari  in the April 3 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.

Estilo Talentoso solidified her form with another solid grade 1-placing in the May 1 Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1), checking in third under the Twin Spires to champion Gamine  while defeating grade 1 victress Bell's the One .

In the Bed o' Roses, Estilo Talentoso was bet down as the second choice behind recent Vagrancy Handicap (G3) winner Victim of Love , who broke on top and led the field through a :22.90 opening quarter. While Lake Avenue  cruised up alongside Victim of Love to challenge the front-runner into the far turn, jockey Javier Castellano began scrubbing on Estilo Talentoso and the bay advanced on the leaders after a half-mile in :45.87. Swinging seven-wide into the stretch, Estilo Talentoso barreled down the middle of the racetrack, splashing past a stubborn Lake Avenue for a neck triumph. Bayerness ran on to complete the trifecta while favored Victim of Love faded to fifth. The final time for the seven furlongs was 1:22.96.

"It went well," said Castellano after the race. "That's what I was looking for today. Everything worked out perfect, the way it was set up. The two speed horses (went to the front) and I tried to keep track of the third horse, outside, because there seemed to be a lot of puddles on the rail, but my horse helped me to handle the situation very well. When I asked her, she responded and did it very well."

Owned by Medallion Racing, Fowler, Barry, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Little Red Feather Racing and BlackRidge Stables, Estilo Talentoso was sold to Arriagada for the bargain price of $15,000 at the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales' June 2-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age Sale as a 2-year-old.

"I feel like I'm blessed. To be at Belmont today and to win with her, it's one of the more beautiful things that could happen in my life right now. I appreciate the owners giving me the opportunity.

 "She (Estilo Talentoso) is very special to me, that's the only thing I can tell you. I worked with her when she was a 2-year-old. Finally, this is the first race she had with the new owners, and thank God she won the race."

Estilo Talentoso was bred in Kentucky by Mile High Bloodstock and is the first stakes winner produced from the Afleet Alex   mare Bazinga Baby.

Improving her record to 3-8-3 from 14 career starts for earnings of $423,538, Estilo Talentoso paid $7.40 for the win.

Video: Bed o' Roses S. (G3)