Belle Gallantey taking shot at Breeders' Cup Distaff

ELMONT, N.Y. – Belle Gallantey, the former claimer turned two-time Grade 1 winner, will try to complete her rags-to-riches story when she runs in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Oct. 31.

Owner Michael Dubb had been on the fence as to whether to send Belle Gallantey across the country for the Distaff, but on Friday, he said, “We’re going to go.”

Belle Gallantey, claimed for $35,000 last December by Dubb, his partners, and trainer Rudy Rodriguez, won the Grade 1 Delaware Handicap in July and, most recently, the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont. She is cataloged to be sold at the Fasig-Tipton auction in Kentucky a couple of days after the Breeders’ Cup.

“When you get a horse at its career-peak form, you have to take your best shot,” Dubb said. “She’ll enter the race with the highest last-out Beyer Figure and probably best sheet number, too. We can talk about whether she’s a loose-on-the-lead type, but I think she’s got more to her than that.”

Belle Gallantey will do the bulk of her training at Aqueduct before shipping to Southern California the week of the race, Dubb said.

Meanwhile, Dubb confirmed that his Grade 1-winning 2-year-old filly Condo Commando would make her next start in the Grade 3, $250,000 Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 2.