Filly rings her Belle in Ashland

Darley Stable homebred LITTLE BELLE (A.P. Indy) quickly showed to the front in Saturday's $500,000 Ashland S. (G1) at Keeneland, was passed by Bsharpsonata (Pulpit) in the stretch, but fought back to take her third straight win by a neck. Sent off the 16-1 fifth pick in the seven-horse field, the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained bay paid $34.20, $11 and $5 to her faithful backers while keying the $177.40 exacta, $455 trifecta and $2,809.80 superfecta (2-4-5-7).

Little Belle gunned to the front when the gates opened, running three and four wide entering the first turn but moving closer to the rail in the backstretch. With Bsharpsonata close on her heels, the sophomore lass set splits of :24 4/5, :49 1/5 and 1:13 2/5 into the stretch. Bsharpsonata kicked into overdrive in upper stretch and passed the longtime leader to look like a clear winner for a brief moment. Little Belle wouldn't be denied, though, suddenly coming again on the inside and retaking the advantage to finish 1 1/16 miles on the Polytrack in 1:43 3/5.

Bsharpsonata ran a winning race in defeat, giving back $5.60 and $3.60 at 5-1 for finishing 2 1/2 lengths clear of Proud Spell (Proud Citizen). The 9-5 second choice was worth $2.40 in the show spot, and it was another head back to Life is Sweet (Storm Cat). Country Star (Empire Maker), the even-money favorite, followed in fifth while Absolutely Cindy (Arch) and African Violet (Lemon Drop Kid) completed the order under the wire.

Little Belle began her career at Aqueduct in October, running fourth in an maiden. She improved her finishing position by one spot in each of her next three races to finally break through with a first victory in a February 1 maiden on the inner dirt. Having finally put it all together, the bay lass remained at Aqueduct to take the Busher S. in her stakes debut last out, and boosted her earnings to $406,060 with this one while moving her line to 6-3-1-1.

The Kentucky-bred miss is the first registered foal out of the stakes-placed Dubai Belle (Mr. Prospector) and has an unnamed yearling full sister. Little Belle's granddam is multiple highweight Flagbird (Nureyev), who is herself a daughter of Grade 2 winner Up the Flagpole (Hoist the Flag).

Among Flagbird's siblings is 2003 Broodmare of the Year Prospectors Delite (Mr. Prospector), who is the dam of 2003 Horse of the Year Mineshaft (A.P. Indy), Grade 1 queen Tomisue's Delight (A.P. Indy), Group 3-winning sire Monashee Mountain (Danzig) and multiple stakes winner Rock Slide (A.P. Indy). Flagbird also counts Grade 1 victress Runup the Colors (A.P. Indy) and Grade 2 hero Top Account (Private Account) as half-siblings.