Alpha Bella, Olivia Darling Score at Gulfstream

Don Alberto Stable's Alpha Bella  went wire to wire while securing an upset victory in the $150,000 La Prevoyante Stakes (G3T) in the kickoff black-type race of the Jan. 27 Pegasus World Cup program at Gulfstream Park.

Racing without blinkers for the first time since 2022, Alpha Bella immediately went to the lead in the seven-horse, 1 1/2-mile turf race for older fillies and mares. The 4-year-old Justify   homebred established fractions of :24.25, :49.03, 1:13.19, 1:37.47, and 2:00.55.

Under Luis Saez, Alpha Bella posted a final time of 2:24.25 on firm turf. She paid $19.20 to win.

Reaction

• "I thought she ran a very courageous race," Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher said. "Our strategy was to try and go to the front and take it from there. It worked out really well.
• "It's a filly that's always been knocking on the door, and I think stretching her out to a mile and a half was what she's been looking for."

Averill Racing and Two Eight Racing's R Calli Kim , the second choice at 9-5, finished second by three quarters of a length. Jockey Jose Ortiz issued an objection against the winner, but stewards upheld the order of finish.

Jordan Wycoff's Anatolian  ran third under Tyler Gaffalione.

Olivia Darling Wins Inside Information

Capitalizing on the hot hand of five-time Eclipse Award-winning rider Irad Ortiz Jr., Amo Racing's Olivia Darling  recorded her first stakes win with a decisive 2 1/4-length victory in the $210,000 Inside Information Stakes (G2).

Her win in the seven-furlong race gave Ortiz his fifth victory from seven mounts after nine races on the Pegasus World Cup Day program.

Closer to the pace than she had been when third in the Dec. 23 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3), she pressed front-running longshot Sassy Nature  through an opening quarter in :22.20, took over with a half-mile in :44.82, and maintained a clear advantage on her way to a final time in 1:23.04. She paid $16 to win.

Bluefield  rallied from midpack to finish second, followed by late-running Maryquitecontrary , the post-time favorite and last year's Inside Information winner, in third.

A 5-year-old daughter of Palace  out of the Bluegrass Cat  mare Honky Tonk Angel , Olivia Darling has a 5-6-2 record in 18 starts. The Shalom Farm and Ramon Martinez-bred runner collected first prize of $117,800 to increase her earnings to $348,263.

Jorge Delgado trains the winner for owner Amo Racing, a group headed by soccer agent and businessman Kia Joorabchian. Amo Racing bought her for $360,000 from Fasig-Tipton's 2021 Mid-Atlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale from the Top Line Sales consignment.