Lothenbach Stables' Bell's the One ran down 6-5 favorite Sconsin in deep stretch to prevail in the $109,300 Roxelana Overnight Stakes June 19 at Churchill Downs, reaching millionaire status as she crossed the wire in near track-record time under Corey Lanerie.
The Roxelana was Bell's the One's first win in three starts this year at age 5. Last September the Neil Pessin trainee nosed out Serengeti Empress to win the Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1) at Churchill before finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.
Four Graces, last year's Dogwood Stakes (G3) and Beaumont Stakes Presented by Keeneland Select (G3) winner who was making her first start after a 245-day break, led the field of six fillies and mares through early quarter-mile splits of :22.56 and :45.19 with Jungle Juice in close pursuit to her outside. Sconsin, winner of the Eight Belles Stakes Presented by Twinspires.com (G2) last September at Churchill and the May 22 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) back under the Twin Spires, was a length back in third and Bell's the One another length back in fourth and in the clear while heading into the turn.
Exiting the turn, Four Graces, Jungle Juice, and Sconsin were three in a line with Bell's the One making a bold wide move. Sconsin poked her head in front with three-sixteenths of a mile to run but was quickly met by Bell's the One at the final furlong marker. Bell's the One out-kicked Sconsin for her sixth career stakes win. She won by three-quarters of a length and completed 6 1/2 furlongs on a fast track in 1:14.90, just :0.56 off Love At Noon's 2001 track record.
"The last four or five days you could tell in her training she was ready to run a big race. She got a much better trip today than in her last start," said Pessin, referencing Bell's the One's fourth-place finish in this year's Derby City Distaff May 1. The daughter of Majesticperfection was second in the April 3 Madison Stakes (G1) at Keeneland to begin her season.
"Now we'll look to get her ready for the Breeders' Cup," Pessin continued. "She'll likely run in the (Breeders' Cup Challenge) 'Win and You're In' at Keeneland (the Oct. 9 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, G2). I'm not sure yet if I'll run her once before then or not. We'll wait and see but the goal is the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year."
The TCA winner will receive an entry fees-paid berth in the Nov. 6 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar.
In winning the Roxelana, Bell's the One returned $6.20 on a $2 win wager as the 2-1 third betting choice.
"Today I let her run a little bit out of the gate because I didn't think the pace would be too fast," Lanerie said. "Then, I was sort of in the pocket (inside of Sconsin) and I didn't really like my spot because I know she needs to be outside of horses. I took her back from there to make sure I got first run at Sconsin. You could tell she was ready to run a big race and Neil had her ready to go."
Sconsin finished second 1 3/4 lengths ahead of third-placed Miss Mosaic. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back to Four Graces, who was followed by Shesomajestic and Jungle Juice.
"We're proud of her and she ran a good race," trainer Greg Foley said of Sconsin. "She got beat today by a nice mare."
Bell's the One was bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones. She is out of the winning Street Cry mare Street Mate, whose four starters are all winners. Street Mate has also produced the black-type placed Creative Cause son Running Mate. Her 2-year-old daughter by Cairo Prince was a $400,000 purchase by Robert Masiello when consigned by Brereton Jones/Airdrie Stud to the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She foaled a filly by Collected in February.
Lothenbach Stables purchased Bell's the One for $155,000 from Brereton Jones' consignment to The July Sale, Fasig-Tipton's selected yearlings sale in Lexington, in 2017. The mare now sports an 8-3-2 record from 18 starts and has earned $1,016,825.
