Bellamore Finally Breaks Through for First Graded Win

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Bellamore Finally Breaks Through for First Graded Win
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Photo: Coady Photo
Bellamore (outside) runs down millionaire Free Like a Girl to win her first graded stakes in the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park

Kaleem Shah's Bellamore  finally broke through at the top level with a gutsy performance in the 1 1/16-mile $300,000 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park Jan. 27.

In her first start with trainer Steve Asmussen, he accomplished what none of Bellamore's previous three trainers could: win a graded stakes. She had been 0-for-9 with five placings in graded stakes. It was Asmussen's third straight win in the Ladies Classic and fifth in the last six runnings.


Breaking last in the field of seven, Bellamore made steady progress on the outside through splits of :24.05, :48.92, and 1:13.88. Jockey Stewart Elliot was able to call on her around the far turn and move past favored Hidden Connection  who was dropping back.

With millionaire Free Like a Girl  to catch, Elliot needed every inch of the stretch as he urged Bellamore past to win by a neck in 1:46.24, returning $7.00 to win.

"Right from the get-go in the race, she made me feel pretty good about things," Elliot said after winning his second consecutive Houston Ladies Classic. "That filly (Free Like a Girl) dug in but I think my filly just wanted it, too."

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Bellamore, a 6-year-old daughter of Empire Maker , was bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds and picked out by Shah's son Arman at the Ocala Breeders' Sale Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training in April 2020 for $350,000. She has now earned $644,992.

"Every horse he has picked out so far has been a graded stakes winner," Shah said of his son.