Meadowlands: Bella Bellini doesn't disappoint in Graduate final for mare trotters

Bella Bellini finished with a flourish after a pocket trip and won Saturday evening's $125,000 Graduate Series final for 4-year-old trotting mares at the Meadowlands in 1:51 1/5.

Driven by Dexter Dunn, Bella Bellini stalked HP Mama B (Tim Tetrick) through fractions of 28 2/5, 57 2/5, and 1:24 4/5, then angled out in the stretch. Once she was fed clear racetrack, Bella Bellini blew by HP Mama B and then drew clear to win by a length and a half. HP Mama B held second over Cindy Michelle (Scott Zeron), with Herculisa (David Miller) and Chablis in fourth and fifth.

"I was more than happy. The fractions really weren't worrying me because her kick is so fast," said Dunn.

Nifty Norman trains Bella Bellini, a 4-year-old daughter of Bar Hopping, for owner/breeder David McDuffee. This was her 15th career victory, and she has now earned $1,333,800. She was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.10 to win and place.

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"She's bigger and stronger and she's loving her work," offered Norman. "Like Dexter said, she couldn't be doing better. She's sound, and she's really good right now."