Page 92 - NMHBA_Winter2022

DOWNS AT ALBUQUERQUE
Petticoat Stakes (R)
Photos by Coady Photography
Attila’s Storm
Forest Wildcat
Sweey Symmetry
Charlotte’s Drone
B.G.’s Drone
Charlotte’s Ego
BELLA DONA
Bella Dona kept her perfect season record intact and extended her win streak
to eight with her 1 1/4-length victory in the September 17, 6 1/2-furlong Petticoat Stakes (R) for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies at Albuquerque Downs.
Saddled by Simon Buechler for owners Robert M. Driggers, Del Rae Driggers
and Ben Lee Ivey, Bella Dona stopped the timer in 1:15.34. Luis Fuentes rode the bay daughter of Attila’s Storm, who banked the $60,000 winner’s share of a $100,000 purse.
Bella Dona was bred by Robert Driggers and Del Rae Driggers, and she was coming off of a one-length victory as the 2-5 favorite in the August 27, 6 1/2-furlong Carlos Salazar Stakes (R) for state-bred distaffers
at Albuquerque Downs. The filly is one of 27 stakes winners from 12 crops sired by the late Attila’s Storm, a Kentucky-bred graded stakes winning son of the Storm Cat stallion Forest Wildcat. Racing from 2004-07, Attila’s Storm earned $534,983 and won two stakes from 18 starts.
Attila’s Storm has sired the earners of more than $17.1 million from 266 starters,
including five-time stakes winners Waltzing Attila and Stormin The Jewels. The stallion died on June 23, 2021, after sustaining a heart attack following colic surgery.
Bella Dona’s dam, Charlotte’s Drone,
is an unplaced New Mexico-bred daughter of the Full Choke stallion B.G.’s Drone. A 2005 foal, Charlotte’s Drone has produced five winners in as many starters, including Tilla Cat, a full sister to Bella Dona who won three stakes in New Mexico from 2016- 18, including the $140,000 New Mexico Cup Oaks Championship (R) at Zia Park in 2016, and No Pasa Nada, a full brother to Bella Dona who won this year’s $100,000 Jack Cole Stakes (R) at SunRay Park and $100,000 Casey Darnell Stakes (R) at Albuquerque Downs.
Bella Dona is also a half-sister to Lariat, a son of Southwestern Heat who won the 2020 New Mexico Cup Derby Championship (R). The filly’s second dam, the New Mexico- bred Tilt The Odds mare Charlotte’s
Ego, won the 2001 New Mexico Distaff Handicap (R) at SunRay Park.
Bella Dona traces back to her fourth
dam, Fanny Falcon, a New Mexico-bred daughter of the Crimson Satan stallion Crimson Falcon. The winner of the 1981 New Mexican Stakes at Santa Fe Downs, Fanny Falcon produced four winners from six starters, including Stryker Ego, a son of Bold Ego who won the 1993 Ruidoso Horse Sale Futurity (R) at Sunland Park.
Campaigned exclusively in New
Mexico, Bella Dona has won 11 of 12
races -- including nine stakes --and she has banked $675,068. The filly’s only loss was a second-place finish in a 2021 New Mexico State Fair Thoroughbred Futurity (R) trial, though she eventually scored a 3 1/2-length victory in the 6-furlong, $235,079 final.
Bella Dona was sent to post as the
6-5 favorite in the field of six. Desert Spirit finished second and was followed by 4-5 favorite Corrina Corrina, Charlies Hurricane, I’ve Got It and Miss Ability.
Desert Spirit banked the $20,000 runner-up share of the purse for her owner, Dale F. Taylor Racing LLC. The daughter of Proceed has won two of 10 races and has earned $116,380, of which $105,580 has been pocketed from seven outs this year.
Corrina Corrina was shortening in distance off of her 7 3/4-length win in the September 4, 1-mile Casino at The Downs Derby (R) for state-bred 3-year-olds. The homebred Mr. Trieste filly has won four of 12 races and has earned $275,370 for her owner, Derrick W. Jenkins.
Bella Dona winning the $100,000 Petticoat Stakes at Albuquerque Downs.
90 New Mexico Horse Breeder