Bell's the One Runs Down Break Even in $100,000 Winning Colors (GIII)

May 30, 2020

Bob Lothenbach’s Bell’s the One displayed a powerful late kick in the Churchill Downs stretch to run down speedy pacesetter Break Even and win Saturday’s 17^th running of the $100,000 Winning Colors presented by Finlandia (Grade III) by three lengths. Mia Mischief, the 4-5 favorite, finished another 2 ½ lengths back in third.

Ridden by Corey Lanerie and trained by Neil Pessin, Bell’s the One ran six furlongs over a fast track in a swift 1:08.70 to collect her fourth career stakes win. Last fall, the 4-year-old daughter of Majesticperfection won the $250,000 Raven Run (GII) at Keeneland.

Break Even was the expected leader in the field of eight fillies and mares and she delivered while zipping through an opening quarter mile in :21.28 and the half in :44.51. Mia Mischief, the winner of last spring’s Distaff (GI) at Churchill Downs, tracked close behind in second with Bell’s the One unhurried in sixth. Bell’s the One was roused for her best run at the head of the stretch, drew even with Break Even at the sixteenth pole and drew away with ease in the final stages.

“She is really talented,” Lanerie said. “When she switches leads like that she has such a strong turn of foot and really finishes strong.”

The victory was worth $60,140, which pushed her career earnings to $461,240 from a record of 6-2-0 in 12 starts.

Sent to post at odds of 13-1, Bell’s the One paid $28.20, $9.80 and $4.20. Break Even, the 2-1 second betting choice ridden by Joel Rosario, returned $4.20 and $3. Mia Mischief, under Ricardo Santana Jr., paid $2.10 to show.

Unique Factor, Sneaking Out, Spiced Perfection, Princess Causeway and Take Charge Angel completed the order of finish. Lady Suebee was scratched.

“When she has a target she’ll really do what you want her to do,” Pessin said. “Her workouts are the same way as she runs in the race. This filly never gets respect. This was a really good group of horses with two Grade I winners. She’s always a big price and never gets the respect she deserves.”

Bell’s the One is out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Street Mate and was bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones.

The Winning Colors is named in honor of Eugene Klein’s Winning Colors, the most recent filly to have won the Kentucky Derby when she beat the boys in the 114^th running of the Run for the Roses in 1988 for the Hall of Fame tandem of trainer D. Wayne Lukas and jockey Gary Stevens.

WINNING COLORS QUOTES

Corey Lanerie, jockey of BELL’S THE ONE (winner): “She is really talented. When she switches leads like that she has such a strong turn of foot and really finishes strong.”

Neil Pessin, trainer of BELL’S THE ONE (winner): “When she has a target she’ll really do what you want her to do. Her workouts are the same way as she runs in the race. This filly never gets respect. This was a really good group of horses with two Grade I winners. She’s always a big price and never gets the respect she deserves.”

Brad Cox, trainer of BREAK EVEN (runner-up): “She ran a really solid race. She fought hard to the wire but (Bell’s the One) just came rolling late to catch us.”