BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Trainer Carlos David returns Florida-bred Belle’s Blue Bell to graded-stakes competition for the third time this year in an effort to upset the Grade 3 Prioress at Saratoga Race Course Saturday. The Jacks or Better Farm homebred filly won the $100,000 Maryfield at Monmouth Park on June 29 but was unsuccessful in both the Grade 3 Miss Preakness in May and the Grade 1 Test last out on Aug. 3.
Belle’s Blue Bell is among nine 3-year-old fillies entered for the $200,000 Prioress scheduled for six furlongs.
After winning two first condition, optional claiming races while sprinting at Gulfstream Park in March and April, David sent Belle’s Blue Bell to Pimlico for the six-furlong Miss Preakness. However, the late-running daughter of Girvin got pushed seven-wide in the turn and was never able to challenge winning Florida-bred Mystic Lake, finishing sixth.
She rebounded with her distinguished late kick to win the Mayfield by nearly two lengths but did not fire on a sloppy Saratoga track in the seven-furlong Test, finishing fifth behind winner Ways and Means.
Belle’s Blue Bell posts a reliable record of four wins and two seconds in 11 career starts. She is out of the Awesome of Course mare Awesome Belle, also multiple stakes winning homebred for Jacks or Better Farm, and has banked $208,660 in career earnings.
Ricardo Santana Jr. will be aboard Belle’s Blue Bell for the first time when they break from post four and they are 15-1 on the morning line.
Belle’s Blue Bell will have experience as an asset as she tries to upset Two Sharp, the 7-5 morning line favorite for trainer Philip Bauer.
Owned by Rigney Racing, Two Sharp was explosive winning her second career start last out at Saratoga on Aug. 2, drawing away to score by 11 ¼ lengths against maiden special weight fillies going six-and-a-half furlongs. Promising from the start of her career as the 3-5 favorite in her debut at Churchill Downs on June 29, a slow start resulted in her finishing second to Mugen in a six-furlong maiden special weight.
Two Sharp is by Twirling Candy out of Double Sharp, by Distorted Humor and was a $925,000 purchase at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The bay filly has drawn post seven and will be ridden by Junior Alvarado.
The Jeremiah Englehart-trained Tricky Temper tries to win her third straight and second consecutive stakes in the Prioress.
Tricky Temper won a second condition, $45,000 optional claiming for state-bred fillies at Saratoga on Aug. 2 then took the $125,000 Union Avenue for state-bred fillies on Aug. 16.
Tricky Temper has won four of 10 career starts with a second and two thirds while banking $297,785 for owner Mark H. Stanley, who purchased her at Ocala Breeders’ Sales. She sold for $230,000 out of the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2023 Spring Sale.
Dylan Davis will ride Trickey Temper from post three and they are 7-2 in the program.
Rounding out the field are Miuccia, who will be ridden by Irad Oritz Jr.; Autumn Evening will have Kendrick Carmouche in the saddle, Carmelita and jockey Jose Lezcano, Javier Castellano has the call on Pacific Rose, Lady Moscato and rider Manny Franco and Luis Saez will be aboard Brightwork.
