Trainer Miguel Clement said Moyglare Stud Farm’s Irish homebred Bellezza is likely Breeders’ Cup bound after securing a ‘Win and You’re In’ berth into the Grade 1 Filly and Mare Turf with a 2 1/4-length win in Saturday’s Flower Bowl (G2), a 1 3/8-mile inner turf test for older fillies and mares, at Saratoga Race Course.

“I believe that is the strong consideration,” Clement said of the Filly and Mare Turf on November 1 at Del Mar. “We’ll probably train her straight to the Breeders’ Cup and we’re very lucky to have her.”

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Bellezza notched her second graded victory in her fourth start since moving stateside. She made her American debut for the late Christophe Clement with a 1 1/2-length win in the Grade 3 Sheepshead Bay over the same distance in May at Belmont at the Big A, and followed with a respective third and second in the Grade 1 New York presented by Rivers Casino in June and the Grade 2 Glens Falls in July, both over yielding Spa turf.

Clement said the firm footing on Saturday helped Bellezza return to the winner’s circle with a strong rally from last-to-first under Jaime Rodriguez in the seven-horse field.

“She’s good, and I thought she was very impressive,” Clement said. “She finally got the ground she was looking for, which is firm turf, and she has not had the opportunity to run on firm since the Sheepshead Bay. I’m delighted for the connections, because Moyglare Stud Farm have been a big supporter of the stable for many years.”

The 4-year-old Bellezza is by Siyouni and of the Galileo mare Terrific, who was stakes-placed in Ireland and is a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Together and a half-sister to Group 1-winner Jan Vermeer.

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“She’s a very tough filly and she’s genuine,” Clement said of Bellezza. “She’s got a superb pedigree, which makes my life easier.”

While Bellezza is likely to train up to the Breeders’ Cup and bypass the Grade 3, $175,000 Waya on October 5, Clement said Flower Bowl fourth-place finisher La Mehana is likely to resurface in the 1 3/8-mile route for fillies and mares at Belmont at the Big A.

LSU Stables’ 6-year-old Al Wukair mare was fifth and 7 1/2 lengths back early in the Flower Bowl under Kendrick Carmouche before swapping spots with Bellezza at the rear of the field to be last through the final turn. She was angled widest of all into the stretch to make a belated bid and landed 3 1/4 lengths back of Bellezza.

“She was a bit unlucky and Kendrick was never able to switch her off, a touch keen early on and that probably cost us a bit of her punch that we’re used to seeing,” Clement explained. “It’s OK, we’ll regroup and we’ll come back.”

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La Mehana was a romping winner of the Grade 2 Ballston Spa ahead of the Flower Bowl, and earned a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the 8 3/4-length triumph. She won last year’s Waya as part of a 6-2-0-2 campaign for Christophe Clement.

Clement also noted that LSU Stables’ multiple Grade 1 winner Far Bridge is on point for a start in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on September 27 at Belmont at the Big A off a sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer on August 9 at Saratoga.

“100 percent,” Clement said of going to the Joe Hirsch. “He’s doing very well, and I just want to give him a few easy weeks. He got a bit light after the Sword Dancer I thought. He’s doing much better now and I intend to only give him two works on the grass at Saratoga at Saratoga between now and then.”

The earner of more than $2.3 million is among the leaders of the older turf division with wins this year in the Grade 3 Pan American at Gulfstream Park and Grade 2 Man o’ War at Belmont at the Big A ahead of a neck third in the Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan in June and a three-length score in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on July 12 at Saratoga.

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Sep 1, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.