Bella Sofia works for clash with Gamine in Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint
ELMONT, N.Y. – Bella Sofia, the New York-based 3-year-old filly who likely will be second choice behind Gamine in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 6, will ship to California in time to get one work over Del Mar’s main track, trainer Rudy Rodriguez said Friday.
On Friday, Bella Sofia worked five furlongs in 1:01.54 over Belmont’s main track in company with the New York-bred Trinni Luck. Rodriguez said he plans to work her one more time at Belmont and then ship to California on Oct. 23.
“She can be a little quirky, but right now we got her on a program where she’s doing very, very good,” said Rodriguez, who was aboard Bella Sofia on Friday. “I spend more time with her, she lets me do a little bit more.”
Bella Sofia has won four of five starts, including the Grade 1 Test at Saratoga against 3-year-old fillies, and defeated three rivals when she beat older females in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom on Sept. 26. Rodriguez knows it’s going to be a tall task taking on Gamine, last year’s BC Filly and Mare Sprint winner and the reigning female sprint champion.
“We gotta take a chance,” Rodriguez said. “These fillies, they don’t come along very often. Right now, she’s training very, very good. I’m happy the way she dominated the older fillies. I know it was four horses, but the way she did it she just keeps impressing us.
“We got to go chase Gamine, I guess. Hopefully, we can break on top and let her chase us. But she’s a very, very talented filly. You got to respect her, that’s for sure, but we’re not afraid.”