Belle continues to be her own worst enemy as she cut her leg in her stall and we were unable to enter her for the final day at Churchill.

The Litfin barn moves to Oaklawn on December 1 so we will try to heal her up and send her up to Turfway for one before the move – but she doesn’t race until she’s healed. We’re also exploring the possibility of shipping her down to Delta for one from Oaklawn in December (it’s a 4-hour ship).  We will also be pursuing a private sale in the interim as well including the possibility of putting together a group to buy her and continue to run her with Nevada.

For those of you following along, the Alumni Group ran today at Churchill with Perfect Movement, a horse claimed back at the beginning of the month for $16,000 after their Vacanza was claimed.  He moved up to $30,000 and was able to close well to finish 3rd in the 7th.

It looks like Belle will be ready roll again next weekend.  We’ll be looking at a $5000 claimer.  While there isn’t one in the condition book there is thought that there will be a few written for closing weekend.  If not, we can ship up to Turfway and run there where there are more of those kind of races run, albeit at lower purses.

Entries will start being drawn this weekend and we’ll keep looking at the extras to see what we can get her in.

There are folks interested in buying her if she doesn’t get claimed – including some that want to form a second alumni group to do it.  I’m not opposed to that but it is a very different animal than the Club: there is potential for loss, higher buy in, carries over year to year, etc.  You can email me at ted@grevelisracing.com if you may be interested. Most likely she will get claimed and the point becomes moot, but just in case.

Belle was back on the track this week and she is doing well.  She came out of the race just fine and Nevada and the team will be getting her ready for her next race. We don’t have an estimated date yet but we do know that we’ll be looking at the same level and distance.  If we can get a draw inside to post 3 or so, we’ll be looking at a different result.

She did well finishing third mired out in post 12 and she fought hard to make sure that she finished 3rd.

We will be looking to get her claimed this next race but there are also folks interested in buying her privately as well, though a claim would be better.

Hopefully we will have a target race picked out to point to next week and we can gear up for one last dash for a photo!

Brilliant Belle and Rafael Mojica, Jr. made the best out of a tough draw and finished 3rd today at Churchill Downs, earning $1800 in the process.

The 12 post in a sprint, especially with a filly that breaks alertly (usually) is problematic at best.  Raffie was able to get her off the early pace and she finished strongly, fighting hard to maintain third.

We’ll see how she came out of the race and look to have her back at this same spot.  I think with a better draw we will have a shot at closing out the year with a win.  She drew some attention today with her run and was markedly better than two of three horses that were claimed out of the race (the winner was also claimed)so hopefully we’ll get a sale out of the next race as well.

Welcome to Churchill Downs!

Belle will be taking on a full field of $5000 claimers in the 10th race this afternoon (about 6:10 our time – watch and wager at Canterbury whilst enjoying Day 1 of the Breeders’ Cup).

Our girl drew the outside for the six furlong dash and will have Rafael Mojica Jr. aboard.

Prom Theme (Danner/Burke) – An off the pace type, she ships in from Ohio after faltering in conditioned $5000 claimers.

Wildwood Kantheros (Litfin/Lanerie) – Nevada’s other entry certainly got the better of the draw.  A stalking type, she’s been off since Canterbury and should be well positioned early.

Honey C (Tapp/Zuniga) – Stepping up from the bottom in Indiana and Ohio.

Kate N Abs Reward (Valenzuela/Jimenez) – While a little flat her last few starts, she’s also been running a bit higher.  She drops in here and could be prominent early.

Titfortat (Caldwell/Canchari) – Won at the bottom at Ellis but faded a bit in her last at Churchill in September.  She’ll be quick and one of the pacesetters.

Muddle (Lauer/Miranda) – Couldn’t break through at the lowest levels against home breds in Ohio, faces open today.

Lucy B (Fosdick/Pompell) – Big class drop and speed should have this one playin catch me if you can.

Leanne n Susan (Romans/Gazader) – Won at $8000 here before a summer break.  She came back w/ a lackluster performance on a class drop and had another 6 weeks off.

Alittlecomplicated (Garcia/Torres) – Reeled off a pair of wins in a row at Thistledown and has come south for a shot at Churchill where she’s 1 for 4.  Will be running late.

Big Island Blonde (Holthus/Sarvis) – Four very rough performances at Oaklawn led to a layoff after the Hot Springs meet.  This is her first back since then and she returns at the bottom.

Teacup Twirl (Walsh/Perez) – Indiana bred taking on open company where she is yet to break through.  Early speed out of post 11 is rough.

BRILLIANT BELLE (LITFIN/MOJICA JR)

I won’t sugar coat it – this one is going to be tough.  While she is certainly not outclassed here (she’s certainly worth more than the $5000), being mired in the 12 hole as alertly as she breaks will be problematic.

She absolutely cannot push the pace the way she did last our or her chances to win will against disappoint through the first quarter mile.  That said, it is very hard to get a stalking trip from outside without some help.

If the break can be spread out a bit, Rafael may be able to get her into a decent position during the first furlong and settle off the pace.  Another potential partner could be the weather.  If it’s wet enough we could see some scratches and that would shift us inward a few spots which would be very helpful/

A lot is going to depend on where we can be the first quarter mile and if she can get first jump on the early leaders and take advantage of the stretch to grind out a win.

Good luck, everybody!

Below are the Past Performances for Belle’s race tomorrow.  We’ll have a preview up in the morning.

Good luck and safe travels (for those of you that are making the trip)!

Belle CD 11-3