Harrah's Hoosier Park: Bella Bellini beats the boys again in Caesars Trotting Classic

Just like she did earlier this year in the Hambletonian Maturity, Bella Bellini defeated male rivals from a trailing post in Friday night's $220,000 Caesars Trotting Classic for free-for-allers on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Driver Dexter Dunn got away in fifth with Bella Bellini while Jujubee (Andy McCarthy) hustled to the front and carved out an opening quarter in 27 seconds. Cuatro De Julio (Yannick Gingras) would then pull out of third in the second quarter, and he would wrestle the top spot away from Jujubee nearing the 56 second half-mile marker.

Lovedbythemasses (Tim Tetrick) was sent first-over out of fourth approaching the half but stalled out on Cuatro De Julio's wheel heading to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters. Meanwhile, Bella Belini had remained on the cones in mid-pack, but Dunn was able to fan her out late on the final bend and into the lane.

Horses swarmed in on Cuatro De Julio inside the final eighth, and moving best of all on the far outside was Bella Bellini, who would surge by and then go on to score by a length and three-quarters in 1:51 2/5. It's Academic (David Miller) rallied from seventh to second in the last quarter, and Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure) came in third.

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"She's a smart mare. She loves chasing, so it usually works out okay for her," said Dunn.

Nifty Norman trains Bella Bellini, a 4-year-old Bar Hopping mare, for owner/breeder David McDuffee. This was her 18th win from 40 career starts, and she has now pocketed $1,758,374. She returned $6.40 to win as the 2-1 second choice.