Page 75 - New Mexico Summer 2022

New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks (R)
Bella Dona continued her dominance of
the state-bred 3-year-old filly division, as the daughter of Attila’s Storm scored a convincing 3 3/4-length win in the March 27, $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks (R) at Sunland Park.
Prepped by Simon Buechler for owners Robert M. Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey, Bella Dona covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.23 while extending her win streak to five races. Luis Fuentes rode the bay filly.
Bella Dona was bred by Robert and Del Rae Driggers, and she is one of 26 stakes winners from 12 crops sired by Attila’s Storm, a graded stakes winning Kentucky-bred son of the Storm Cat stallion Forest Wildcat. Racing from 2004-07, Attila’s Storm won five of 18 starts -- including the 2007 Toboggan Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City -- and he earned $534,983.
Attila’s Storm has sired the earners of $16.01 million from 249 starters, including multiple stakes winners Waltzing Attila, Stormin The Jewels, Hush’s Storm, Thermal, and Go For A Stroll. The stallion died after colic surgery on June 23, 2021.
Bella Dona is one of five winners from as many starters produced by Charlotte’s Drone, an unplaced daughter of the Full Choke stallion B.G.’s Drone. A 2005 New Mexico-bred foal, Charlotte’s Drone has foaled two other stakes winners: Tilla Cat, a full sister to Bella Dona
who won three stakes in New Mexico from 2016-18, and Lariat, a half-brother to Bella Dona who won the 2020 New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R) at Zia Park.
Bella Dona’s second dam, the New Mexico- bred Tilt The Odds mare Charlotte’s Ego, won four stakes from 1997-2001, including the $56,400 New Mexico Distaff Handicap (R) at SunRay Park in 2001. The filly’s fourth dam, the New Mexico-bred Crimson Falcon mare Fanny Falcon, won the 1981 New Mexican Stakes for 2-year-olds at The Downs at Santa Fe.
Bella Dona traces back to her fifth
dam, Tuff Ruler, a winning daughter of the Nasrullah stallion Sir Ruler and a full sister to stakes winner May Ruler.
The $150,000 winner’s share of the stakes-record New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks purse increased Bella Dona’s bankroll
to $525,068. Raced in New Mexico and Arizona, the filly has won eight of nine starts, including six stakes, and her current win streak includes victories in the 6-furlong, $100,000 La Senora Stakes (R) on January 16, and the 1-mile, $100,000 Enchantress Stakes (R) on February 20.
Bella Dona returned a $3 win mutuel as
the 1-2 favorite in the field of eight. Corrina Corrina, the 2-1 second choice, finished second to complete a $2 exacta return of $5.80.
Desert Spirit, Running For Grace, Bernice Who, Right For You, Indian Excellence, and Miss Bright Town completed the order of finish.
Corrina Corrina banked $50,000 for
her owner, Derrick W. Jenkins. A homebred daughter of the Old Trieste stallion Mr. Trieste and the winning Carson City mare Scared Money, the dark bay or brown filly has won two of seven starts -- all in New Mexico -- and she has earned $125,190, of which $109,240 has been pocketed from four races this season.
Desert Spirit finished four lengths behind Bella Dona and earned $25,000 for her owner, Dale
F. Taylor Racing LLC. A maiden, the chestnut daughter of the Desert God stallion Proceed has banked $51,080 from six starts, of which $40,280 has been earned from three races this year.
Bella Dona winning the $250,000 New Mexico Breeders’ Oaks at Sunland Park.
Photos by Coady Photography
SUNLAND PARK
Attila’s Storm
Forest Wildcat
Sweet Symmetry
Charlotte’s Drone
B.G.’s Drone
Charlotte’s Ego
BELLA DONA
SUMMER 2022 73