Bell's the One takes TCA, punches ticket for BC Filly and Mare Sprint

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bell’s the One earned a Win and You’re In berth into the Breeders’ Cup by winning as a decisive favorite Saturday at Keeneland, but her trainer, Neil Pessin, was looking for a little something extra.

“The only thing I regret with her is she never gets the respect she deserves,” Pessin said after Bell’s the One looped her five rivals for a neck triumph in the 41st running of the Grade 2, $250,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes, a Win and You’re In for the $1 million BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

Confidently ridden by Corey Lanerie, Bell’s the One was still last of six fillies and mares as the compact field passed the three-eighths pole in the six-furlong TCA. Without urging, the 5-year-old mare collared the front-runners while wide at the furlong grounds, then edged away before holding off a belated bid by Club Car when given four thwacks of a left-handed whip in deep stretch.

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This was the 10th win in 21 starts for Bell’s the One, a Majesticperfection mare owned by the Lothenbach Stables of Bob Lothenbach. She paid $4.20 after finishing in 1:08.63 over a fast track.

Estilo Talentoso was third, just a head behind Club Car, with the 2020 TCA winner, Inthemidstofbiz, another 1 1/2 lengths back in fourth. Frank’s Rockette and Miss Mosaic completed the order.

Last year in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint, Bell’s the One was third behind the runaway winner, Gamine, who will be heavily favored for a repeat in the seven-furlong race Nov. 6 at Del Mar. And even though she is a Grade 1 winner who now has earned $1,336,825, Pessin believes she should be taken more seriously on a broader level and that she has the best chance for an upset, assuming the mare exits the race in good order and proceeds to Del Mar.

“I don’t know what this mare has to do to earn respect, but she’s definitely got mine,” Pessin said.

Club Car, a 14-1 shot, pulled hard down the backstretch with Tyler Gaffalione aboard before getting shuffled back in the turn. Bell’s the One, with smoother sailing, got first run on her, but after angling widest of all for the final yards, Club Car came up just short.

“That filly in front of us just never quit,” Gaffalione said.

The $2 exacta (6-2) paid $34.60, the $1 trifecta (6-2-4) returned $41.80, and the 10-cent superfecta (6-2-4-3) was worth $17.58.

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