NEWS
Unrivaled Belle in full control in Rampart
Posted: Saturday, March 20, 2010 6:47 PM
UNRIVALED BELLE
Coglianese Photos
To view the Rampart Stakes, click here.
by Tim Nichols
Unrivaled Belle broke sharply and led at every point of call en route to capturing the $150,000 Rampart Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Peter Vesgo’s and Gary Seidler’s homebred four-year-old Unbridled’s Song filly captured her first graded stakes win, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.36 on a track rated as fast.
Unrivaled Belle took the early lead under Kent Desormeaux, setting the pace through a half-mile in :47.43 and six furlongs in 1:11.26 while stakes winner Champagne Eyes chased from second.
Desormeaux kept Unrivaled Belle to task in early stretch and the filly responded gamely, refusing to allow any opponent to pass en route to victory.
“At no point late was I worried that the other horses were going to come get her,” Desormeaux said. “She still had plenty left at the finish.”
Unrivaled Belle has finished no worse than fourth in seven career starts. She entered off a fourth-place finish in the La Canada Stakes (G2) on February 14 at Santa Anita Park.
Champagne Eyes held on for second, 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner, while Miss Singhsix (Ire) finished third. Reigning Venezuelan Horse of the Year Bambera (Ven) stumbled badly at the start and finished last in her North American debut.
Bred in Kentucky, Unrivaled Belle improved to four wins and two seconds from seven careers starts and earnings of $259,270. She is one of two winners from as many starters out of multiple Grade 2 winner Queenie Belle, by Bertrando.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Tim Nichols is internet content editor of Thoroughbred Times
