Page 68 - NMHBA_FALL2021

RUIDOSO DOWNS
by Michael Cusortelli • Photos by Jake Rogerss
Rio Grande Senorita TB Futurity (R)
Attila’s Storm
Forest Widcat
Sweet Symmetry
Charlotte’s Drone
B. G’s Drone
Charlotte’s Ego
BELLA DONA
Bella Dona, a homebred daughter of Attila’s Storm and the 11-10 favorite in a field of New Mexico-bred Thoroughbred two-year-old fillies, scored her third consecutive victory in the August 15, $124,849 Rio Grande Senorita Futurity (R) at Ruidoso Downs.
Prepped by Simon Buechler for owners Robert Driggers, Del Rae Driggers, and Ben Lee Ivey, Bella Dona defeated 23-1 longshot I’ve Got It by a clear 4 1/4-lengths while covering 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:05.06. Jimmy Ray Coates rode the bay filly.
“She gave me about three jumps heading for home,” said Coates, who has ridden Bella Dona in all three of her career outs. “Other than that, she was messing around out there.
“She has so much natural speed,” he added. “She’s fast.”
Bella Dona became the 23rd official black- type stakes winner from 11 crops sired by Attila’s Storm. Raced in five states from 2004-07, Attila’s Storm earned $534,983 from 18 starts, and his five wins include the 2007 Toboggan Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct. He also ran second in the 2005 Malibu Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park.
Attila’s Storm has sired the earners of more than $13.9 million from 237 starters, including multiple stakes winners Waltzing Attila, Hush’s
Storm, Stormin The Jewels, and Thermal. The stallion died on June 23 after sustaining a heart attack following colic surgery.
Bella Dona’s dam, Charlotte’s Drone,
is an unplaced daughter of the Full Choke stallion B.G.’s Drone. A 2005 New Mexico- bred foal, Charlotte’s Drone has produced 100% winners from five starters, including Tilla Cat, a full sister to Bella Dona who won three stakes from 2016-18, and Lariat, a half- brother to Bella Dona who won last year’s $50,000 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 the $56,400 New Mexico Distaff Handicap (R) at SunRay Park in 2001. Bella Dona was coming off of a neck victory in the first of two Rio Grande Senorita Futurity trials on July
30. She made her debut with a wire-to-wire, 4 1/4-length win in a 4 1/2-furlong maiden spe- cial weight-optional claiming ($30,000) sprint at Turf Paradise on April 14.
The $62,425 winner’s share of the purse increased Bella Dona’s bankroll to $75,929, who is undefeated in three starts.
Miss Ability, a 42-1 longshot, finished third. Indian Excellence, Real Me, Bernice Who,
Le Grand Johann, Annie Get Ur Guns, and Crafty Warrior completed the order of finish.
I’ve Got It races for J & SM Inc. of Fort Stockton, Texas. A full sister to stakes winners Thermal, Reaper, Another Brother, and Flight Song, the chestnut filly made her debut with a fourth-place run in the first Senorita Futurity trial on July 30. I’ve Got It has earned $25,270 from two outs.
Miss Ability has banked $15,282 from
two races for her owners, Gustavo Andazola, Ron Kellum, and Danna Buechler. A chestnut daughter of the Mr. Greeley stallion Mr. Gold Mover, she made her debut with a fourth-place finish in the second Senorita Futurity trial.
66 New Mexico Horse Breeder