Minority Interest Sold in Grade 1 Winner Bella Sofia

Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, and Barry Fowler have purchased a minority interest in the grade 1-winning filly Bella Sofia , it was announced Aug. 24. The deal was brokered by bloodstock agent Nick Sallusto.

The 3-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot  in her most recent outing drew off to a 4 1/4-length success in the Aug. 7 Longines Test Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, defeating a talented field that included graded stakes winners Souper Sensational  and Search Results . 

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Bella Sofia has tallied three victories from four starts with earnings of $405,100. 

Medallion, Parkland, and Fowler join original owners Michael Imperio, Vincent Scuderi, Sofia Soares, Gabrielle Farm, Mazel Stable Partners, and Matthew Mercurio in campaigning the filly. 

"Nick Sallusto and I talked after the filly broke her maiden. I felt she was one to keep an eye on," said Medallion Racing's Mark Taylor. "And her Test was a jaw-dropper. She showed freakish talent, and she's got a sneaky good pedigree. We are grateful for the opportunity to be in on her."

Sallusto and Hanzly Albina bought Bella Sofia for the original ownership group for $20,000 from the Grassroots Training & Sales consignment at last year's Ocala Breeders' Sale's July 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale. 

The filly was subsequently sent to Sallusto's Thorostock Training facility in Morristown, Fla., where she was developed into a first-out, 11 1/4-length winner May 6 at Belmont Park. She then finished second in the June 6 Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont. She returned to the winner's circle with a 6 1/2-length allowance win July 11, also at Belmont, before heading to the Test.

"She was an extremely fluid mover at the breeze-ups before the sale, and was a flawless physical at the barn," Sallusto noted. "Her talent was obvious from the first time I breezed her at the farm. Rudy Rodriguez has done an excellent job of advancing her talent."

The Sept. 26 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at Belmont is a possible next destination for Bella Sofia, with an eye toward the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Bella Sofia was bred in Kentucky by Two Tone Farms out of the Consolidator  mare Love Contract , whose first three foals are all winners. The extended female family includes two-time leading sire What a Pleasure and champion older mare Inside Information .