Under a perfect ride from Jaime Rodriguez, Irish-bred Bellezza got her second win from four starts in the United States when she closed from last to take the $500,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 30.
Bellezza strolled out of the starting gate, Rodriguez letting her run leisurely and off the rail in the early going of the 1 3/8-mile race run over a firm inner turf course, while Be Your Best went out to an early lead that increased with every furlong, leading by 5 1/2 lengths after three-quarters of a mile over Long Ago in second.
As Be Your Best set fractions of :24.70, :49.19, and 1:13.54, Bellezza retained her place in last up the backstretch, Rodriguez nudging her to the inside as the field approached the final turn. She slowly made up ground, splitting horses at the three-sixteenths pole, and cruised past Be Your Best to win by 2 1/4 lengths.
Amber Cascade was second, with Be Your Best a half-length back in third. Bellezza paid $7.50 to win, covering the 1 3/8 miles in 2:14.80.
"Miguel (Clement) told me to try to save some ground in the beginning and that's what we did," Rodriguez said. "In the first turn, we got a little bit wide, then dropped in a little bit, and then we caught the rail all the way on the backside. Once we got from the three-sixteenths to the quarter pole, I just released her and tried to find the spot where to go. Once she was clear, she exploded. I'm really happy with her, the way she was running. This is a dream come true, like I told my wife, 'This is what I want, a horse to take me to the Breeders' Cup.'"
Rodriguez's first graded stakes win came on Bellezza in the Sheepshead Bay Stakes (G3T), his second in the Flower Bowl.
Four-year-old Bellezza made her first seven starts in Ireland, winning twice, including the listed Diamond Stakes at Dundalk. Owned and bred by Moyglare Stud Farm, she was transferred to the United States and Christophe Clement earlier this year, and Clement trained her to a first-out graded stakes win in the Sheepshead Bay in May. Following Clement's death at the end of May, the bay filly by Siyouni remained in the barn to be trained by his son, Miguel Clement.
"Moyglare has been very supportive of the stable for many years," he said, "and it's a delight to get good horses from Europe. We're very lucky to train for them, and I'm incredibly grateful to them. She had just won the listed stakes in Ireland, and they always thought she was a touch better than that. She's out of a Galileo mare, and we don't have many of those in our barn, so it's a big deal, and she's a gorgeous physical."
Between the Sheepshead Bay and the Flower Bowl, Bellezza was twice graded stakes-placed, running third in the New York Stakes (G1T) and second in Glens Falls Stakes (G2T).
"She's been able to get grade 1 black type, grade 2 black type, and now a grade 2 win," Clement continued. "She's really enhanced her page."
Clement had entered two other runners in the Flower Bowl. In Time was scratched the day of the race, and La Mehana finished fourth as the favorite.
Both of Bellezza's wins in the U.S. have come on firm turf; her losses have come over courses labeled yielding.
The Flower Bowl is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), and Clement is undecided about how he'll prep Bellezza for the Nov. 1 race at Del Mar.
"It depends on her well-being," he said. "She's never missed a beat since joining us, and she'll continue to be based here in Saratoga. She trains very well here. We could maybe entertain the idea of running her in the Waya (Oct. 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack), or keep her fresh for the Breeders' Cup."
