Bellera shortens up, takes on statebreds in Musical Romance Stakes

Bellera, a multiple stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles, will shorten to seven furlongs for her first start in 3 1/2 months in Saturday’s $100,000 Musical Romance Stakes for Florida-bred fillies and mares.

Bellera, a daughter of Bernardini trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Grade 3 Comely last November to end her 3-year-old campaign, then came back to win the Ladies, also at Aqueduct, to kick off her 4-year-old season.

Bellera did begin her career finishing second in a Florida-bred maiden race going seven furlongs at Gulfstream Park.

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Lady’s Island, trained by Gerald Bennett, has finished first or second in 10 of her last 12 starts, including a second-place finish in this race last year, her only career start at seven furlongs. She won the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl going six furlongs here in December.

Wildwood’s Beauty has finished second in the Grade 2 Inside Information and Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie in her last two starts.

J P’s Delight, who beat Wildwood’s Beauty in a restricted stakes at Tampa in December; Liza Star, Ocean’s of Love, Two Sixty, Starship Bonita, and Picara complete the field.