Pletcher has capable pair for Ladies Handicap

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Bellera ran well enough winning the Grade 3 Comely Stakes here on Nov. 29 to earn herself a trip to the warm, sunny clime of South Florida for the winter. Problem is, there is no race at Gulfstream Park for a filly who wants to go a true distance of ground.

Thus, Bellera remained in the Northeast as part of trainer Todd Pletcher’s New York winter string with Sunday’s $100,000 Ladies Handicap as the logical spot to begin her 4-year-old campaign. Bellera heads a potent 1-2 punch for Pletcher along with Another Broad in the Ladies, being run for the 149th time.

The Ladies is run at 1 1/8 miles, a distance at which Bellera has won twice, including the Comely. Her only loss at that distance came in the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm on Nov. 2, where she was squeezed leaving the gate and unseated her jockey, Jose Lezcano. Bellera actually did cross the finish line first that day, for whatever that is worth.

“She has proven a mile and an eighth to be an ideal distance for her so that’s sort of why she’s there,” Pletcher said Friday by phone from Florida. “This is the race she’s been pointing to for a while.”

In the Comely, Bellera stalked in second behind the favorite Gold Standard for nearly a mile. Bellera took the lead just outside the eighth pole and opened up to win by 1 3/4 lengths. Her tactical speed should help her overcome the outside post in the seven-horse field on Sunday. Lezcano rides.

“She’s got good natural speed and we’ll let her get into a comfortable rhythm,” Pletcher said. “She doesn’t have to be on the lead, but she’ll be right there.”

Another Broad finished a strong second to Golden Award in the Turnback the Alarm on Nov. 2, the last time she raced at 1 1/8 miles. Most recently, Another Broad finished fifth in the Grade 3 Go for Wand, a one-turn mile.

“I think she, too, appreciates a mile and an eighth. We’re looking forward to getting her back around two turns,” Pletcher said. “I hate running the two fillies against each other because I think they’re both capable of winning on their best days. It’s the correct spot for each one individually.”

There was wet weather forecast on Saturday. If the track is wet on Sunday, both Bellera and Another Broad should handle it. Bellera won a 1 1/8-mile maiden race in the slop at Saratoga. Another Broad is 4 or 5 over a wet surface, including a victory in the Top Flight Invitational going 1 1/8 miles here last April.

Eric Cancel rides Another Broad from post 2.

Lucky Move was an unlucky loser of the Bay Ridge Stakes for New York-breds, beaten a nose by Mrs. Orb. While this is a step up in class, she has shown an affinity for 1 1/8 miles.

Entropia, Nonsensical, Annie Rocks, and Our Super Nova complete the field.