Belle Gallantey Among Nine in Affectionately

Two-time grade I winner Belle Gallantey, ninth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) in her last start Oct. 31, is one of nine fillies and mares entered in the $100,000 Affectionately Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack Jan. 1.

The Affectionately, at 1 1/16 miles on the inner track, is the third race with a probable post time of 1:20 p.m. EST.

Belle Gallantey, owned by Michael Dubb and Bethlehem Stables, won five of eight starts in 2014 after her current owners and trainer Rudy Rodriguez claimed her for $35,000 at Aqueduct in her final start of 2013. Her two stakes victories in 2014 came in the Delaware Handicap (gr. I) in July and the Beldame Invitational (gr. I) in September.

Belle Gallantey, a 6-year-old mare by After Market, has been first, second, or third in 28 of 44 starts and has earned $1,111,270. She will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. as the 123-pound highweight from post 9.

Bobby Flay's America, a regular competitor in graded stakes in 2014, drew post 6 under Junior Alvarado at 118 pounds. The A.P. Indy filly enters the Affectionately off back-to-back victories in allowance company in November and December at Aqueduct.

Trained by Bill Mott, America competed in six graded stakes in 2014 with her best finishes a third in the Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) behind eventual Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Untapable and a third in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (gr. II) behind In Tune.