Meadowlands: Graduate Series switches to the mares

Bella Bellini, last year's Dan Patch Award winner as top sophomore trotting filly, made her 2022 return in a division of the Miss Versatility on May 6 at the Meadowlands and was a fast-closing second to Next Level Stuff.

"She raced better than I expected," said Nifty Norman, who trains the 4-year-old daughter of Bar Hopping. "She's wearing less equipment than she did last year. She is sounder and stronger than a year ago."

Bella Bellini drew the rail in the sole $40,000 Graduate Series leg for 4-year-old trotting mares and will retain regular pilot Dexter Dunn while pitted against a standout group of mares that includes a pair of Ohio-sired distaffs.

"Herculisa is a very nice horse," said Norman in deference to last week's 12-1 upsetter over Atlanta in the Miss Versatility. Fortunately for Norman, Herculisa landed post seven in Saturday's contest, though she remains a solid threat given her explosive stretch speed that saw her catapult to victory over the $3 million earner Atlanta in a blistering 25 4/5 final quarter.

Bella Bellini trotted home rather strongly on her own, hitting high speed late with a 26 second final fraction while missing by just a neck.

"I think she could be a different type of horse this year," said Norman of Bella Bellini. "I think she'll be strong enough to go to the front and cut the miles."

Though her obvious strength was extreme closing speed, and that worked last year where she was first or second in 17 of 19 starts, Norman knows that the competition will be more contentious and Bella Bellini will need a new wrinkle if she hopes to dominate at this level.

In addition to the Ohio-sired Herculisa, Katie's Lucky Day, a nine-time winner in 2021, enjoyed her biggest day in defeating Bella Bellini in the Kentucky Futurity for fillies last October at The Red Mile by a nose in a career-best 1:50 4/5 clocking. The Todd Luther-trained daughter of Uncle Peter is thus far winless in three tries this year but raced creditably in her mile track return, just a nose behind Bella Bellini in third in the Miss Versatility. Katie's Lucky Day drew post five.

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Two divisions of the Graduate for pacing mares, each going for $25,000, help add depth to a solid Saturday night program at the Meadowlands, with one division likely a bit more top-heavy than the other. Test Of Faith, last year's Horse of the Year, makes her second start in 2022 from post two in the 11th race second division, but trainer Brian Brown is hoping his more seasoned Oakwoodanabella IR may be ready shipping east.

"She definitely got in the tougher division," said Brown, while happy with the rail draw. "She's versatile and can do whatever you want."

The Irish-bred Oakwoodanabella IR came to Brown's stable last July and made an immediate impact, finishing on-the-board in all eight starts, including a pair of second-place finishes behind Test Of Faith.

"It wasn't ideal getting her up to speed in such a short time," said Brown of last year's effort to catch up with the daughter of Foreclosure N while others she faced had far more seasoning. "I think the time off served her well."

Oakwoodanabella IR was a 1:49 4/5 winner against Open filly and mare company at Harrah's Hoosier Park in her last start on May 7.

Norman didn't sound as optimistic as Brown with his entry in this division, Grace Hill.

"It's going to be tough to beat Test Of Faith after the way she looked last week," said Norman. Grace Hill has finished second in both of her starts this year but drew post seven in the tougher Graduate division.

Mikala, a daughter of Always B Miki from a full sister to Captaintreacherous, showed plenty of stakes ability last season while racing primarily in Pennsylvania. Since returning to the track as a 4-year-old, Mikala has been most impressive racing against a few rivals in the New Jersey Breeders Maturity, an event she swept. George Brennan guided Mikala to a 1:49 4/5 career-best on April 30, and the mare seems primed for the step up on Saturday. Mikala starts from the pole among nine in the first $25,000 division carded as race nine.

Easy To Please (post five) was rock-solid in finishing third in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series final and faces her own age and sex for the first time in 2022 in this division. With $117K banked this year Easy To Please will be making her 10th start of the year.

Hot Mess Express conversely makes her season's debut from post nine in this division. The Indiana champion owns a 1:48 3/5 personal-best over the Meadowlands surface taken last year.

Norman also sends out a pair in Saturday's $40,000 Open pace (race 10) with Jack's Legend N (post four) and Let It Ride N (post six) facing just five others in the tenth race.

"I got Jack's Legend N after the Borgata," said Norman. "He went a tough trip in that race and obviously needed some time."

As for Let It Ride N, a horse that has been on the board in 10 of 11 starts this year, Norman didn't mince his words.

"He really wasn't good last time," Norman said. "He wasn't on the bit at any point in the mile. He's a horse that races better fresh, and that's why we gave him the week off."

Let It Ride N, a 1:48 3/5 winner at the Meadowlands on April 23, will get a new driver in Brian Sears as Dexter Dunn opted for Jack's Legend N in his Norman debut.