Bella Sofia Makes Easy Work of Gallant Bloom
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand
Bella Sofia wins the Gallant Bloom Handicap at Belmont Park
Bella Sofia rolled to a second straight graded stakes victory Sept. 26 as she easily put away three older rivals to win the $232,500 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) at Belmont Park.
Sunday's 6 1/2-furlong test followed the Aug. 7 Longines Test Stakes (G1) for sophomore fillies going seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course, where Bella Sofia was an impressive 4 1/4-length winner.
With Luis Saez back aboard for the Gallant Bloom, the Awesome Patriot filly stopped the clock in 1:15.69 as she was hand ridden to a 3 1/2-length victory on the track rated fast.
"She's very special. From day one when I rode her and broke her maiden here (May 6), she gave me a feeling she's a grade 1 winner," Saez said. "In the Test, she proved she can really run and today was easy for her.
"She finished up strong and did it easy. I had a lot of horse."
Bella Sofia broke on top from the rail and was a length in front as she led with fractions of :22.46 and :45.40 though a half-mile. The dark bay or brown filly then opened up down the stretch as she cruised to the finish line. She returned $2.80 on a $2 win ticket as the favorite.
Rudy Rodriguez trains Bella Sofia for Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent Scuderi, and Parkland Thoroughbreds.
"She's very special. I just try to enjoy the ride," Rodriguez said.
"Luis (Saez) and I talked before the race and if someone else wanted the lead we'd let them go, but she's so quick out of the gate," the trainer added. "The one time we got beat (when Bella Sofia was second in the June 6 Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont) she stumbled out of the gate bad. I don't think she necessarily needs to be on the lead, but when you have this type of horse you have to take advantage of it."
Lady Rocket chased in second throughout and finished nine lengths ahead of Lake Avenue in third. Don't Call Me Mary was a half-length back in fourth.
With four wins and a second in five career starts, Bella Sofia has now banked $542,600.
The filly was bred in Kentucky by Two Tone Farms out of the stakes-placed Consolidator mare Love Contract, whose first three foals are all winners. Love Contract has produced one foal since Bella Sofia, a yearling colt by V. E. Day .
Bella Sofia has earned much more than her purchase price. She was a $20,000 buy for agents Sallusto & Albina when she was consigned by Grassroots Training & Sales to the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales July 2-Year-Olds and Horses of Racing Age Sale.