BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Jacks or Better Farm Inc., homebred Belle’s Blue Bell came from last in a compact race to fight with Daughter of Time at the top of the stretch then pulled away late to win the $100,000 Maryfield at Monmouth Park Saturday. With Joe Bravo aboard, Florida-bred Belle’s Blue Belle finished six furlongs in 1:10.09 to defeat five other 3-year-old fillies on the fast track.

Daughter to Time had a short advantage down the backstretch with Caress and Girvin’s Princess close by in second and third while Belle’s Blue Bell was last but only two lengths off the lead.

Belle’s Blue Bell tried to pounce on the leaders leaving the backstretch after a quarter mile in :22.09 but lacked room until they began to make their way around the far turn. Bravo took Belle’s Blue Bell off the rail and into the three path and she drew even with Daughter of Time and Youalmosthadme with a quarter mile to the finish.

Belle’s Blue Bell and Daughter of Time were head and head until the final furlong when the former pulled away to finish a length-and-three-quarters in front under the wire. Youalmosthadme was second, a half-length faster than Daughter of Time in third. Girvin’s Princess, Outspoken and Caress completed the order of finish. Calle Amada was scratched.

Trained by Carlos David, Belle’s Blue Bell paid $10.60 to win.

Belle’s Blue Belle has now won two of her last three starts, including a first condition, $50,000 optional claiming on synthetic at Gulfstream Park on March 13 and a first condition, $75,000 optional claiming going six furlongs at Gulfstream on April 14. In her previous start, she was sixth in the six-furlong Miss Preakness (Grade 3) won by Mystic Lake with Youalmosthadme second at Pimlico on May 17.

Belle’s Blue Belle is by Girvin out of multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred mare Awesome Belle, by Awesome of Course. Belle’s Blue Belle is the first stakes winner for Awesome Belle, who has two winners from four starters. Awesome Belle has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Greenpointcrusader and an unnamed yearling colt by Ocala Stud’s popular first crop sire Win Win Win.

Belle’s Blue Bell has now won four with two seconds in 10 starts with earnings of $188,660.

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