Favored Bella Medaglia Rolls in Thursday Feature

May 19, 2011 Gary Yunt

Coteau Grove Farms’ Bella Medaglia swept past the pace-setting Vivo Per Lei in upper stretch and went on for a 3 ½-length victory over Differentiate to win the $52,840 allowance for fillies and mares on Thursday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

            Trained by Bret Calhoun and ridden by Miguel Mena, Bella Medaglia covered the 1 1/8 miles over a fast main track in 1:50.74. A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, Bella Medaglia improved her record to 11-3-4-1 with earnings of $136,156 that include Thursday’s check of $32,100.

             Favored in the field of six, Bella Medaglia returned $4, $2.80 and $2.40. Differentiate rallied for second under Jesus Castanon to pay $4.40 and $3 with Vivo Per Lei finishing third a nose back under Calvin Borel and paying $2.80 to show.

            Racing continues Friday with an 11-race Twilight card that begins at 2:45 p.m. (ET).