Debuter gives Bellamy Road first winner

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.