Bella Sofia Ready to Roll in Honorable Miss

On July 21, trainer Rudy Rodriguez, upbeat as usual, said if it was up to him, heck yes, Bella Sofia  was going to run in the $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap (G2) July 27 at Saratoga Race Course.

First, though, he had to get the blessings of the sizeable ownership group of the daughter of Awesome Patriot . It didn't take much convincing on Rodriguez's part. 

On the morning of July 22, the owners—Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent S. Scuderi, and Parkland Thoroughbreds—were all in. Bella Sofia, who has been razor sharp in two starts this season, headlines the field of four fillies and mares aged 3 and up that are contesting the six furlongs.

"Everybody's ready," Rodriguez said with a smile as he stood in his office between sets. "When they're doing good you run them. Horses like her don't come around that often." 

The 4-year-old Bella Sofia has won six of eight starts in her career and has finished off the board only once. This year, Bella Sofia owns two wins in as many starts.

She took the Bed o' Roses Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park in her last start on June 10 by a half-length.

Before that, it was victory in the Vagrancy Handicap (G3), also at Belmont, on May 14.

"We are just happy she is doing what she is doing and hope she stays sound and happy and we just stay out of the way," Rodriguez said.

Bella Sofia does her best running on the front end and has won two of three starts at the Honorable Miss distance. She ran six furlongs in the first three starts of her career. Unraced as a 2-year-old, she broke her maiden by 11 1/4 lengths at Belmont last May 6. Following a second in the listed Jersey Girl Stakes June 6, she romped to a 6 1/2- length score in an allowance on July 11. Those races were also at Belmont

Her coming out party came in the Longines Test Stakes (G1) last August in Saratoga. After a win in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) last September, Rodriguez took her to Del Mar for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and that produced a disappointing fourth.

Rodriguez hopes to get Bella Sofia, who will be ridden by Luis Saez, back to the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland in the fall. But, first things first.

The biggest threat to Bella Sofia in the Honorable Miss could come from trainer Wesley Ward, who will saddle Kimari , owned by Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith, and Michael B. Tabor.

Kimari, a 5-year-old daughter of Munnings  , has won five of seven career starts on dirt (she has two wins in seven tries on grass) but is coming off a dull fifth-place finish in the Derby Distaff Stakes Presented by Kendall-Jackson Winery (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day.

"She was a little flat," said Ward, who will give a leg up to jockey Joel Rosario. "For whatever reason, she did not fire that day. She is at a distance that I think is her ideal distance. We are taking on a big favorite, but we are ready for her."

Also entered in the Honorable Miss, which will be the fourth race on the 10-race July 27 card, are Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Frank's Rockette , who was beaten a nose by Bella Sofia in the Vagrancy, and Amadevil , owned and trained by David Wolochuk.

Amadevil has won seven of her eight career starts, racing mainly at Thistledown.