Bellera justified her heavy 1-5 favoritism with a determined three-quarter length victory over Lucky Move in the Listed Ladies Handicap at Aqueduct Jan. 19.
It was the second consecutive Stakes win for the four-year-old daughter of Bernardini. She capped off her sophomore season with a win in the G3 Comely in November.
Ridden by Jose Lezcano, Bellera led the compact field of five through the opening quarter mile before she was supplanted up front by Nonsensical, who quickly opened a five-length lead. Bellera was content to track from second, biding her time until the far turn, when both she and Lucky Move swept past Nonsensical and started to pull away.
Bellera and Lucky Move continued to battle through the stretch, with Bellera eventually crossing the wire to win quite easily.
Bellera was bred in Florida by Hardacre Farm LLC and is out of the multiple Graded Stakes-placed mare, Habiboo. In addition to Bellera, Habiboo is the dam of Life Imitates Art, winner of the G3 Dania Beach Stakes. Habiboo herself is a half-sister to multiple G1 winner and Darley stallion, Street Boss.
Bernardini has sired over 70 Stakes winners. In addition to Bellera, Bernardini’s other 2019 Stakes winners include Capezzano (G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3), Cherry Lodge (Ladies’ Turf Sprint Stakes), Desert Isle (Zadracarta Stakes), Micheline (Sorority Stakes), Éclair (Golden Gate Debutante) and Crescentcitypretty (Azalea Stakes).
Bernardini will stand 2020 breeding season at Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a fee of $40,000, stands and nurses.
