Former Kiwi's 'bella' USA performance
FORMER New Zealander La Bella Vita overcame a wide drawe in a featured field at Saratoga Casino Hotel yesterday.
The Alicia Gray-trained daughter of Changeover was making her debut in the Fillies' and Mares' Open at the Spa following a successful stint at Plainridge Park in Massachusetts.
La Bella Vita advanced a bit in the early going as Shawn Gray got her away fourth.
Like La Bella Vita, Always Watching was in the local Open for the first time in her young career and was aggressive from the get-go, carving out first half fractions of 27.1 and 56.4 seconds before rebuffing a first-over bid from the race’s favourite.
All the while, La Bella Vita drafted behind the cover of the favourite before fanning three-wide around the final turn.
The seven-year-old surged in the stretch and completed her swoop of the group to score in 1:53.1 as Always Watching and Birch Island Betty filled the placings.
La Bella Vita, which is owned by Bowie Racing and Michael Goldberg Racing, paid $10.20 to win in the mild upset.
- Mike Sardella
