The Gallorette Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
PIM- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
May 20, 2017

There were no surprises in the 13th running of the Gallorette Stakes here on PRK day.  Five of the six runners in this field had never won a graded stake, though are on the upswing of their careers.  Then, there was General Belle, a three-time graded winner who took part in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at SA last fall.   She came into the race on good form, and was made an even money favorite.  Sometimes, when everything points in one direction, that result will actually happen.  It seemed like all General Belle needed to do today was to run her race, and things would be very difficult for the competition.  She showed up and did exactly that, and as a result she scores a two length win.  Mb Stables is the winning trainer and with the victory he can cross the stake off of the list of ones that he had not won yet.  Winning jockey I Ortiz Jr can do the same.  Congratulations to the winners!  The time of victory was 1:40.11, the fourth quickest in the stake’s history.  Here’s a look at how it happened!

(1/4 Mile- :23.56)- The eventual winner from Mb Stables, General Belle, broke very well out of the gate, as did Night Mare Racing’s Frozen Echo directly to her outside.  The two of them matched strides until about the time they hit the finish line on the opening lap.  Eventually, Frozen Echo would pull out to the lead, and I Ortiz Jr would reel in General Belle to a spot two lengths off the lead.  She would eventually be fourth while rounding the turn as both Validation (Team 7 Illusions) and Lady Lucy (Crocker Ggs), who started well themselves, kept a steady stride to each move ahead of her.  Lurking right behind the pack was Wisconsin Laff (Blushing Meadows).  Dawl And Bath (TwinTowersRacing) had absolutely no interest in running with the leaders and was four lengths behind Wisconsin Laff all by herself.

(½ Mile- :47.15)- Not much changes over the second quarter as Frozen Echo runs a nearly identical time for it as she did the first quarter.  The lead remains a little over two lengths over what has become a three wide battle for second between Validation, Lady Lucy, and General Belle, in that order from rail to the outside.  General Belle does seem to have the leader right where she wants her though, and it is an ideal position to strike. Wisconsin Laff is a length behind those three, and not wanting to get involved further with then at this point.  Dawl And Bath remains well out of it.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5 F to go)- General Belle takes over the race during this segment of the race.  While running in that third lane, should close the gap on the Frozen Echo as they approached the final turn, and neither Validation or Lady Lucy were going with her at this time.  She made it look rather easy as they hit six furlongs in 1:10.52 and rounding the turn.   At the top of the stretch, she had taken over the lead, and had pulled away by about a length and a half over the two that she had been running with, so it seemed doubtful that they were going to be able to recapture that ground that they gave up.   Frozen Echo was still holding her own at this point and seemed as though she could hang on to second, but General Belle was going to be too much.  Validation and Lady Lucy remained third fourth.  It seemed as though Wisconsin Laff may have been waiting for her time to strike as well, but she would not have any advance at this point, and Dawl And Bath would draw even with her.

Finish (1:40.11)- In the stretch, the experienced graded stake champion put on a clinic and showed her aspiring competition how it was done.  General Belle would simply outclass the field in the stretch, pulling away, and winning by two.  Job well done!  Frozen Echo also ran a rather impressive race here, as after General Belle went on by, she never packed it on, and her advantage on third was about as wide as General Belle’s lead on her.  She was the clear second place finisher and we’ll see what she can do in the future.    Lady Lucy grabs third over a well closing Dawl And Bath, who finishes in a dead heat for fourth with Validation.  Dawl And Bath had a good stretch run, but simply had conceded way too much ground early.  Wisconsin Laff is really the only in this field who you can say was a true disappointment today, as she brings up the rear.

About The Winner- General Belle is a three year old filly by General Motors and out of Sabres Belle (by Bronze Sabre).  Her dam also ran in the BC Juvenile Turf, and you know all about Bronze Sabre!  Ridden to victory by I Ortiz Jr, she was bred by her current trainer, Mb Stables as a yearling in California and they have been together throughout.  Congratulations to the connections!  The win is her sixth in eleven starts, and fourth graded victory, all of which were Grade 3’s.  Her career earnings now sit at $490.400.

Track: Firm
Time: :23²  :47   1:10²  1:40

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 4 – 5 Paid 44.10
$1 Trifecta: 4 – 5 – 3 Paid 1,044.60

Scratched: None

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES