Arlington Park barn notes May 23rd

By Grant LaGrange —-

NEIL PESSIN POINTS BELLS THE ONE TO GI ACORN

Trainer Neil Pessin reported that Lothenbach Stables’ Bells the One is doing great after her runner up finish in the GII Eight Belles Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, and is pointing to the GI Acorn at Belmont Park.

Bells the One broke her maiden at first asking last September at Arlington as a 32-1 longshot before shipping to Keenland a month later and taking an Allowance Optional Claimer over the Lexington oval. Now a perfect two for two, she shipped to New Orleans where she would make her Stakes debut a winning one winning the $75,000 Letellier Memorial Stakes with a half-length victory. A three-month layoff followed before returning in the Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial Stakes at Fair Grounds where she kept her perfect record intact. The GI Ashland Stakes spelled the end of that streak however, where she was soundly beat after being eased up after 6 furlongs. She did bounce back in her last start, proving that she belongs in Graded Stakes company after her impressive second place finish in the GII Eight Belles Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Neil Pessin is now pointing her to the GI Acorn at Belmont park, and is happy with her condition,

“She came out of that race very well, and she couldn’t be doing any better right now.”

The GI Acorn is shaping up to be a tough race, with Kentucky Oaks winner Serengeti Empress also being pointed there, but Pessin is optimistic with his Filly,

“We know Serengeti Empress is going to be in there but we still feel confident. She’s doing so well right now you just have to give her the shot.”

Bells the One is a Kentucky bred daughter of Majestic Perfection and out of a Street Cry (IRE) mare. So far in her young career, she was won four of her six starts and will be looking for her first Graded Stakes victory.

She will stay in Kentucky at Churchill Downs for training up to the GI Acorn on June 8.

Arlington International Racecourse – the Chicago area’s premier Thoroughbred racetrack located in Arlington Heights, Ill. – will run a 71-day meet in 2019 from May 4 through September 22. Arlington International Racecourse, whose parent company is Churchill Downs Incorporated (Nasdaq: CHDN), also operates 10 off-track, simulcast-wagering facilities in Aurora, Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Waukegan, Villa Park, Rockford, Hodgkins, McHenry, Green Oaks and Orland Hills. Arlington International Racecourse is a proud member of America’s Best Racing. Information on Arlington International Racecourse and Trackside OTB can be found online at www.arlingtonpark.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/arlingtonpark and www.facebook.com/tracksideotb, and on Twitter at @Arlington_Park for the latest happenings, @ArlingtonRacing for the latest racing news and @TracksideOTB for all things pertaining to off-track wagering.