Grade 1 winner BELLAMY ROAD (Concerto) was represented by his first winner on
Wednesday when his two-year-old daughter Bella Palooza made her career debut in
the 2ND race at Hollywood Park. The Doug O’Neill trainee stalked the early pace
in the 4 1/2-furlong maiden claiming test, came wide leaving the turn and into
the stretch, then pulled away to be 1 3/4 lengths clear under the wire. Owned by
Suarez Racing Inc., the dark bay miss stopped the clock in :52 1/5.
Bred in Florida by Dianne D. Cotter, Bellamy Road was an $87,000 purchase at
the OBS April sale of two-year-olds. He was campaigned by New York Yankees owner
George Steinbrenner’s Kinsman Stable, and began his career under the tutelage of
Michael Dickinson before heading to the shedrow of Nick Zito for his
three-year-old campaign. A 7 1/2-length debut winner at Delaware Park in August 2004, Bellamy
Road stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in his next start to take the Cradle S. (G3)
at River Downs by 2 3/4 lengths. However, his first trip to Kentucky to race
resulted in a seventh-place finish as the favorite in the Breeders’ Futurity
(G1) at Keeneland.
After that initial setback, Bellamy Road was sidelined until the following
March. He dominated his next two outings, taking a one-mile allowance at
Gulfstream by 15 3/4 lengths, then turned in a spectacular performance in the
Wood Memorial S. (G1), winning Aqueduct’s historic Triple Crown prep by 17 1/2
lengths and equaling the track record for 1 1/8 miles set by multiple champion
Riva Ridge in 1973.
Unfortunately for Bellamy Road, his effort in the Kentucky Derby (G1) proved
eerily similar to his effort in the Breeders’ Futurity. Favored at 5-2 in the
Run for the Roses off his scintillating Wood Memorial score and the overwhelming
speed figures he was awarded for it, he could do no better than seventh, 6 3/4
lengths behind the longshot winner Giacomo. Bellamy Road popped a splint in the
Derby and would race only once more, finishing a strong second to Flower Alley
in the Travers S. (G1) while attempting to win off a layoff of more than 3 1/2
months. He was retired after more splint and suspensory issues surfaced, having
compiled a mark of 7-4-1-0, $811,400.
Produced from the winning Hurry Home Hillary (Deputed Testamony), Bellamy
Road is a full brother to Old Midleton, a multiple stakes winner in Puerto Rico.
His fourth dam, Arabian Dancer (Damascus), was a half-sister to multiple
Grade 1 winner Versailles Treaty (Danzig) and Grade 3 scorer For Kicks
(Topsider). Arabian Dancer was the dam of Grade 3 winners Out of Place (Cox’s
Ridge) and Lead Kindly Light (Majestic Light) and the granddam of Grade 1 winner
Gold Fever (Forty Niner) and Grade 2 victor Jackpot (Seeking the Gold).
Bellamy Road stands for a fee of $10,000 live foal at Pauls Mill Farm near
Versailles, Kentucky.