Bella Sofia wins Vagrancy head bob over Frank's Rockette after long stretch battle

The Grade 1 winner Bella Sofia made a successful return to the races Saturday at Belmont Park, though it was more difficult than expected.

In a stirring stretch battle that lasted three-sixteenths of a mile, Bella Sofia outlasted the six-time stakes winner Frank’s Rockette to win the Grade 3, $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap by a nose. It was 9 3/4 lengths back to Assertive Style in third. Kept Waiting and Miss Brazil completed the order of finish.

Bella Sofia, who won the Grade 1 Test last summer, was making her first start since she finished fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last November at Del Mar. Her connections had thought of waiting for the Grade 2, $300,000 Bed o’ Roses on June 10 to bring her back, but Bella Sofia had come to hand quicker than that so they ran in here.

Breaking from the outside post under Luis Saez, Bella Sofia was a half-length off the pacesetting Miss Brazil through a quarter in 22.67 seconds and was on even terms after a half-mile in 45.68. Bella Sofia, three wide, took the lead approaching the quarter pole, but Flavien Prat split horses on Frank’s Rockette at the quarter pole and the race was on in upper stretch.

:: Want to start playing with a $510 bankroll and have access to free Formulator? Learn more

Bella Sofia and Frank’s Rockette matched strides from the three-sixteenths pole to the wire with Bella Sofia getting the nod.

Bella Sofia, a 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Patriot owned by Michael and Elizabeth Imperio, Vincent Scuderi, Sofia Soares, Medallion Racing, and Parkland Thoroughbreds and trained by Rudy Rodriguez, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.02 and returned $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite.

“She's a very gutsy filly,” Rodriguez told NYRA publicity after the race. “She's been doing very good in the morning. She's been galloping out seven-eighths to a mile the two times she worked before her last work, so I knew she was fit. She's a special filly. It's good when they dig in like that.”

In a post-race interview, Elizabeth Imperio, part-owner of Bella Sofia, indicated the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss on July 27 at Saratoga would likely be the next step for Bella Sofia. Her major summer goal this summer is the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina on Aug. 28 at Saratoga.

Frank’s Rockette finished second for the third consecutive stakes race in the Vagrancy. She now has 8 wins, 8 seconds and 3 thirds from 21 starts for owner Frank Fletcher and trainer Bill Mott.

“I couldn't be disappointed with that,” Mott told NYRA publicity. “She had a beautiful trip and ran her heart out. I think she gave us everything she had.”