Bell's the One Steps Back Up in Honorable Miss
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Photo: Coady Photography
Bell's the One after her victory in the Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs
Lothenbach Stable's Bell's the One returned to the winner's circle last out with a gutsy three-quarters-length victory in the June 19 Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Her trainer Neil Pessin is now stepping her back up to graded company in the $200,000, six-furlong Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. He isn't shying away from the competition.
"I'm really not scared of any sprint filly in the country right now, to be honest. It's just a question of if she runs her race," Pessin said. "If she does, she's going to be tough to beat no matter who shows up. I respect them all, but I don't fear any of them. I'm very confident in my filly's abilities."
Bell's the One broke through at the top last September by nosing out Serengeti Empress in the Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1). She wrapped up last season with a third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) behind champion Gamine and Serengeti Empress. She returned this year with a runner-up finish in the Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland, finishing less than a length behind Kimari . She was fourth in this year's Derby City Distaff, back to its normal spot on the calendar in May, before rebounding in the Roxelana.
Neil Pessin gives Bell's the One a pat ahead of the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland
"Kimari beat us at Keeneland and it was my mare's first out of the year," Pessin said. "We also got stuck on the inside and didn't get to bounce outside. If we'd got outside, I think we'd have beat her that day."
Trainer Wesley Ward reported July 23 that Kimari would skip an expected start in the Honorable Miss, saying she wasn't showing the energy she previously had shown during morning training.
On Wednesday Pessin would like to see Bell's the One a little closer to the pace like she was in the Roxelana.
"I'm trying to get her a little more that way, so we're not so pace dependent," he said. "In her last race, they didn't go fast early but we weren't far off of it. She was stuck in between horses—there were three across the track—and Corey (Lanerie) let her take back a little bit so she could get to the outside. When she turned for home, she just kicked on. She won by three-quarters, but it was a handy three-quarters."
Lanerie has the return call on the 5-year-old Majesticperfection mare from the outside post of nine.
Honorable Miss entries also include Honey I'm Good , winner of the July 3 Regret Stakes at Monmouth Park; Truth Hurts , who won the July 3 Perfect Sting Stakes, which was moved off the turf to the sloppy main track at Belmont Park; Sadie Lady , winner of the June 12 Dancin Renee Stakes against New York-breds at Belmont; graded stakes winner Lake Avenue , who was second, beaten a neck in the June 4 Bed o' Roses Stakes (G3) at Belmont; Roxelana third Miss Mosaic ; and last-out allowance level winners Ain't No Elmers and Don't Call Me Mary . Reagan's Edge completes the field.
Trainer Rob Atras said he may consider running Sadie Lady in the Aug. 19 Union Avenue Handicap against state-breds instead, but that the mare is probable for the Honorable Miss Wednesday.
Saratoga Race Course, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, Race 9Entries: Honorable Miss H. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Ain't No Elmers (KY)
Adam Beschizza
117
W. Bret Calhoun
6/1
2
2Reagan's Edge (KY)
Jose Lezcano
118
Cherie DeVaux
6/1
3
3Sadie Lady (NY)
Jose L. Ortiz
118
Rob Atras
12/1
4
4Lake Avenue (KY)
Junior Alvarado
119
William I. Mott
9/2
5
5Truth Hurts (ON)
Irad Ortiz, Jr.
114
Chad Summers
30/1
6
6Don't Call Me Mary (PA)
Luis Saez
117
Todd A. Pletcher
12/1
7
7Honey I'm Good (FL)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
119
Steven M. Asmussen
6/1
8
8Miss Mosaic (KY)
Manuel Franco
116
Ben Colebrook
15/1
9
9Bell's the One (KY)
Corey J. Lanerie
123
Neil L. Pessin
7/5
