Former owner has no seller's remorse with Ivy Bell

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Ivy Bell has no bigger fan than her former owner Brook Smith. Over the winter, Smith sold Ivy Bell for an undisclosed price to the partnership of Mathis Stable and Madaket Stables after the daughter of Archarcharch had established herself as an up-and-coming sprinter in Kentucky.

Making her first start Saturday since being turned over to Todd Pletcher, Ivy Bell won the Grade 2 Inside Information at Gulfstream, earning a career-high 90 Beyer Speed Figure and stamping herself as a hot prospect in the national filly-mare sprint division.

“I’m 110 percent happy for that race,” said Smith, a Louisville, Ky., businessman who made a fortune in insurance and surety bonds. “I’ve got no regrets. In this business, you’re always one step away from a zero. There’s always some degree of sentimentality involved when you let a horse as good as her go, but we all agreed it was a fair deal. I hope she goes on to win a bunch of races and the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.”

Pletcher said the Grade 1 Humana Distaff on the Kentucky Derby undercard is a logical target for Ivy Bell, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred mare who now has five wins and six seconds from 16 starts.

Mississippi eyes Florida Derby

Mississippi could go in the March 31 Florida Derby after breezing five furlongs Monday in 1:00.60 at Palm Meadows, although it’s possible he could be withheld in favor of a later Kentucky Derby prep, said Mark Casse, who trains the Pioneerof the Nile colt for the partnership of John Oxley and the Coolmore group.

“We’re still thinking it over,” said Casse, who already has one Derby hopeful in Flameaway, owned solely by Oxley.

Mississippi won a one-mile maiden race at Churchill in his second start before finishing second in back-to-back first-level allowances at this championship meet on Jan. 11 and Feb. 4.

Mississippi would join a Florida Derby lineup that, at this early juncture, consists of five definite starters: Audible, Catholic Boy, Strike Power, and the Dale Romans duo of Promises Fulfilled and Storm Runner. Romans said he also will consider King Zachary, a romping winner here Sunday in a maiden route.