Correas will test Didia, Bellagamba against better next time out

Highly regarded Argentine import Didia had a successful North American debut on Monday at Colonial Downs, where she won a high-level turf-route allowance race by one length.

Vincent Cheminaud rode Didia for trainer Ignacio Correas two days after the pair had teamed up to win the Big Dreyfus Stakes at Laurel Park with Bellagamba. Foaled on Southern Hemisphere breeding time in 2018, Bellagama in 2020 won the Group 1 Enrique Acebal at San Isidro in Argentina, and Didia won the same race in 2021.

Bellagamba got a 90 Beyer Speed Figure winning the Big Dreyfus and is headed, if all goes well, to the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes on Aug. 21 at Woodbine, Correas said Monday. Bellagamba on Saturday raced in blinkers for the first time winning the Big Dreyfus over 1 1/8 miles, the same distance as the Canadian, but Correas wasn’t sure if the equipment change had made any more difference than the mare having better luck at Laurel after losing her first five races in the U.S.

“They were just very small cheater blinkers, maybe just to help her focus a little more,” Correas said. “This was the best trip she’s had” during the American phase of her career.

Bellagamba is good, but Didia, a year younger, probably is better. Her Argentine Group 1 wins were stronger than Bellagamba’s and she prevailed Monday at Colonial while starting for the first time in more than six months at a 1 1/16-mile distance shorter than she prefers. Didia set a strong pace in her best Argentine performances but on Monday relaxed for Cheminaud rating second behind Gogo Shoes, who set a walking pace.

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When the tempo of the race quickened at about the five-sixteenths pole Didia was caught somewhat flat footed, coming off the bridle and losing position, but she found her best stride past the three-sixteenths pole and reeled in Gogo Shoes, who had opened a substantial lead at the eighth pole.

“I think that was impressive she could catch that filly. I think that shows you how good she is. She went from being stalking and suddenly everybody make their run and she was in between a bunch of horses. She did what she had to do when you’re good to win a race,” said Correas.

Didia, a daughter of Orpen owned, like Bellagamba, by Merriebelle Stable, on Tuesday morning appeared to have come out of her race in good shape. Correas will ship her back to Kentucky and look for a stakes race over a longer distance, with the two leading options the Flower Bowl over 1 3/8 miles on Sept. 3 at Saratoga and the Beverly D. at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 13 at Churchill Downs. Correas said the Beverly D. might come up too quicky for Didia.