Belle Gallantey sets pace in winning Beldame

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Elmont, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Belle Gallantey, ridden by Jose Ortiz, set a very slow pace to win Saturday's $400,000 Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park in a duplication of her Delaware Handicap victory from two months ago.

Trained by Rudy Rodriguez, Belle Gallantey took the lead at the start of the 1 1/8-mile Beldame from her outside post in the seven-horse field of fillies and mares.

Sent off as the 9-2 third choice, Belle Gallantey was allowed to cruise on the lead with no pressure in the main track race. The 5-year-old chestnut mare opened her lead down the stretch and registered a convincing 8 1/4-length win over 3-2 favorite Stopchargingmaria, one of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country.

"It's very, very special," Rodriguez said. "We're working very hard with these kinds of horses, and thank God they did it. I don't know what to tell you. I'm speechless."

Finishing third was Endless Chatter followed by Stanwyck, Fiftyshadesofhay, Toasting and Oasis At Midnight.

The time for the Beldame was 1:47.55 on a fast track.

"I just put my hands down and was a passenger," Ortiz said. "As soon as I went to the lead, she relaxed really well. Rudy told me she was 100 percent, and I always trust him. When we went to the quarter pole I had a lot of horse, so I knew I had it."

Owned by Michael Dubb, Bethlehem Stables and Gary Aisquith, Belle Gallantey notched just her second stakes victory from 43 career starts. Winning the Beldame was worth $240,000 to push the mare past the $1 million mark in career earnings. Belle Gallantey has nine wins, 12 seconds and seven thirds for more than $1.1 million.

Belle Gallantey made her stakes debut on Belmont Stakes Day in the Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park. The 5-year-old finished fifth at 25-1 in the 1 1/16-mile race less than two lengths behind winner Close Hatches. At Saratoga on Aug. 22 she failed to fire and came home sixth of seven, beaten 25 1/4 lengths over a muddy main track.

On July 12, the mare defeated Princess of Sylmar by almost three lengths in the Delaware Handicap at odds of 9-2.

Belle Gallantey returned $11.40, $4.90 and $4.40. Stopchargingmaria paid $3.40 and $3.00, and Endless Chatter paid $5.00 to show.