Belle Gallantey Connections Consider Distaff

In a movie, Belle Gallantey's rags to riches 2014 season would end with a victory in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I), but in real life her connections are taking time to make sure the 1 1/8-mile race Oct. 31 at Santa Anita Park is her best option.

Trainer Rudy Rodriguez, who has never saddled a Breeders' Cup horse, said Belle Gallantey is his best bet for this year but that he and owners Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables, and Gary Aisquith, will make a final decision in the next few days on the 5-year-old After Market mare who has won grade I stakes in two of her past three starts.

Rodriquez acknowledged their decision could be influenced by the status of five-time grade I winner Close Hatches, who finished fourth in the Spinster Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 4 at Keeneland. A representative of Close Hatches' owner Juddmonte Farms said after the race that the 4-year-old First Defence   filly would be evaluated before any decision is made on the Distaff.

Belle Gallantey and Close Hatches both feature a front-running style. Belle Gallantey recorded gate-to-wire scores in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) July 12 at Delaware Park and in the Beldame Invitational Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Belmont Park. But in between those two starts, she finished sixth in the Personal Ensign Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont, a race Close Hatches won by five lengths while leading at every call. 

If Belle Gallantey doesn't add another chapter to her story at Breeders' Cup, Rodriguez already has enjoyed his chestnut mare's remarkable season. Dubb and Rodriguez claimed Belle Gallantey for $35,000 out of a six-furlong race Dec. 19 at Aqueduct Racetrack, which at that point was the 36th start of her career with just a third-place finish in a 2011 stakes race at Hastings Racecourse as her only black-type.

"At the time, we were just looking to win a couple of races with her," Rodriguez said. "She'd been running in sprints recently and we thought we'd try her longer."

Belle Gallantey won her first three races this season in an allowance race at Aqueduct, a starter allowance at Aqueduct, and an allowance/optional claiming race at Belmont. After finishing fifth of six in the Ogden Phipps Phipps Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont she sprung the 6-1 upset over Princess of Sylmar in the Delaware Handicap.

After starting 30 times in 2012-13, Belle Gallantey seemed to respond to a reduced workload this year. She has raced just seven times, with five wins. Her $851,400 in earnings this year is more than her three previous racing seasons combined.

Belle Gallantey's Beldame win came on the same day Rodriguez saddled Vyjack to a victory in the $400,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) and Dads Caps to a runner-up finish in the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I).

"It was a great day," Rodriguez said. "The horses were all training very good. For them to perform the way they did was unbelievable."

Belle Gallantey will be offered at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November sale Nov. 3 in Lexington. She was bred by Pam and Marty Wygod, who already boast Breeders' Cup winners Life is Sweet (2009 Distaff) and Sweet Catomine (2004 Juvenile Fillies [gr. I]). The Wygods also bred this year's likely Classic (gr. I) favorite, Shared Belief.