Just One Time Vs. Bell's the One in Derby City Distaff

After battling in the Madison Stakes (G1) April 9 at Keeneland, six runners from that race, including the top-five finishers, are set to square off again in the $750,000 Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) at Churchill Downs May 7.

Though the conditions of the race are the same, a sprint for older fillies and mares at seven furlongs, one key element differs. This time Bell's the One  has a race under her belt. 

When she raced last month at Madison, she competed following a five-month hiatus and after rallying from last to take the lead inside the final furlong, weakened slightly and settled for second. She was beaten three-quarters of a length by Just One Time , who after being passed on the turn by Bell's the One closed outside to catch her in the final sixteenth.

"I moved too soon," said Bell's the One's regular rider, Corey Lanerie. "She got a little tired."

It is no easy thing timing a rally on a closer, particularly one fresh and eager to engage. 

"The thing with her is she is so quick," to accelerate, trainer Neil Pessin said. "So caught them so fast. You don't expect it, and he hadn't been on her in a while (since the fall)."

Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One, with earnings of more than $1.6 million, also lost to a high-class filly who packs a punch and is a winner of six of seven starts. Outquickened on the turn, Just One Time was resurgent down the lane under Flavien Prat.

Racing this year for trainer Brad Cox, the 4-year-old daughter of Not This Time   is 2-for-2 in stakes for owners Warriors Reward and Commonwealth New Era Racing

Just One Time and Bell's the One, winner of the Derby City Distaff in 2020, are two of three top-level stakes winners in Saturday's race, the other being Kimari , winner of the 2021 Madison. 

The latter, a 5-year-old Munnings   mare trained by Wesley Ward, ran third in last month's Madison after contesting the pace.

Others in the field are grade 1-placed Obligatory , second in the Cotillion Stakes (G1) last fall, and Edgeway , last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) runner-up. Both are in top form, coming off fast graded stakes victories.

Obligatory and Bell's the One have captured multiple stakes over the Churchill surface. The former is 2-for-2 locally, having won the Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Smithfield (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day last year, and the Chilukki Stakes (G3) during the fall.

The field is completed by grade 3 winner and Madison ninth-place finisher Center Aisle  and Four Graces , a 5-year-old dual graded stakes winner seeking her first victory since her 3-year-old season. Another entrant, Lady Rocket , will be scratched to run in the May 8 Ruffian Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park, according to co-owner Clay Sanders.

Entries: Derby City Distaff S. presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 07, 2022, Race 8

• Grade I
• 7f
• Dirt
• $750,000
• 4 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
• 2:48 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Lady Rocket (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	123	Brad H. Cox	5/1
2	2Just One Time (PA)	Flavien Prat	123	Brad H. Cox	3/1
3	3Center Aisle (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	123	Paulo H. Lobo	15/1
4	4Kimari (KY)	Joel Rosario	123	Wesley A. Ward	9/2
5	5Obligatory (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	123	William I. Mott	7/2
6	6Bell's the One (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	123	Neil L. Pessin	5/1
7	7Edgeway (KY)	John R. Velazquez	123	John W. Sadler	4/1
8	8Four Graces (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	123	Ian R. Wilkes	15/1