Bellabel takes San Clemente as D'Amato notches 1-2-3 sweep

DEL MAR, Calif. - Bellabel is compiling a winning streak worth the wait.

In her first start in more than six months, Bellabel won her graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf at Del Mar.

Bellabel led a sweep of the first three finishers by trainer Phil D’Amato, who finished second and third with 36-1 Sixteen Arches and 7-2 Island of Love.

Bellabel ($8) closed from sixth on the backstretch in a field of 12 to take the lead in the final furlong. More importantly, an inside move by winning jockey Umberto Rispoli leaving the turn allowed Bellabel to avoid a chain reaction of trouble that affected several runners to her outside in the stretch.

Bellabel finished two lengths in front of Sixteen Arches, who was a neck in front of Island of Love.

Lady T finished fourth, and was forced to the outside when stretch leader Lucky Girl drifted out in the final furlong. The incident caused Tezzaray, Gem Mine and Helens Well to shift ground.

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After a 10-minute inquiry, the stewards disqualified Lucky Girl from fifth to ninth in a majority decision. The amended order of finish behind Lady T was Gem Mine, Countess Rosina, Anthonys Cleopatra, Lucky Girl, Helens Well, Tezzaray, Mise Le Meas and Gold Dragon Queen.

Bellabel was timed in 1:35.32 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 82.

The $203,500 San Clemente Stakes was the first start for Bellabel since a win in the Blue Norther Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 2, her American debut. Bellabel won her final start in Ireland last September in a minor handicap at Naas Racecourse.

Owned by the partnership of Michael Nentwig, Ray Palagano, the Benowitz Family Trust and John Rochfort, Bellabel has won 3 of 7 starts and earned $195,435. D’Amato indicated Bellabel will have her next start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Aug. 20.

Bellabel was turned out shortly after the Blue Norther and resumed workouts at Los Alamitos in early May for trainer Phil D’Amato.

“She’s come back a more mature filly,” D’Amato said. “She’s filled out and looks good. I thought I had her 90 percent for this race.”

D’Amato had four runners in the San Clemente, including Helens Well.

Rispoli and D’Amato teamed to win Friday’s Oceanside Stakes with Balnikhov. After the San Clemente, Rispoli was eager to see what Bellabel can accomplish in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks.

“This is not the last we’ll hear from her,” Rispoli said.