Bella Dolce got a perfect second-over steer from driver Paul MacDonell and she took full advantage to score her sixth straight victory in Friday's $201,300 S.B.O.A. Final for three-year-old trotting fillies at Mohawk Racetrack.
When the gates opened, Countess Stormont (Mark MacDonald) left hardest from the outside Post 10 and posted a first panel in a sizzling :26.3 before slowing down the tempo to a :57 half.
MacDonell had Bella Dolce unhurried in seventh early on and they were able to flush out Hamster Dance (Jody Jamieson) down the backside, which gave them second-over cover and towed them into fourth at the 1:26.4 three-quarters. Bella Dolce tipped off cover out of the turn and easily pounced on the tiring leaders.
The Kadabra – Pizza Dolce filly took the deep stretch lead and was able to hold off a late rally from Whatta Hotty (Garrett Whelan) by a length and a quarter in 1:55.2. Gaelic Mistress (Steve Byron) completed the top three.
"She just goes out to the track and does her thing. She is pretty much automatic. She had a few minor issues last year at the gate, but she seems over that this year," said MacDonell. "She is just as good off a helmet as she is first-over. She doesn't like get tangled up in the early going; she takes her time off the gate and sets herself up for a good trip most of the time. Good horses do that. I think she will try the Simcoe in a couple weeks, then maybe something at The Red Mile and then of course the Superfinal in November."
Bella Dolce ($2.10) is trained by Kevin O'Reilly for owner David Mc Duffee. After a sluggish start to the 2008 season, the filly is six-for-12 and has earnings of $342,496. The victory was the 14th of her career and boosted her bankroll to $664,293.
To view Mohawk's results, click here.