Exciting Bells Beach tops Wilton Stakes

Jeffrey Drown’s #6 Bells Beach (5-2) takes a hefty class rise from the maiden ranks into the stakes waters in Friday’s $135,000 Wilton S. at Saratoga. The visually impressive daughter of Curlin left quite an impression when graduating at Churchill Downs last time out, and anything resembling that performance will make her tough to deny against this capable field. 

Wilton Wagers:

• $30 win #6 Bells Beach ($30)
• $5 exacta 6 with 3,4 ($10)

Wilton Analysis:

Trained by Chad Brown, the $675,000 yearling purchase was unveiled at Keeneland on April 5 and was last at the top of the lane in a seven-furlong heat, prior to making a solid late run to finish fourth, just 1 1/2 lengths shy of the runner-up spot behind sharp winner Roman Grace, who looks like a stakes horse to me. Bells Beach moved to the one-mile distance beneath the Twin Spires in her second outing and showed a bit more early interest, prior to decimating her foes late and earning a hefty 102 Brisnet Late Pace figure in the process. 

The sophomore filly is from a classy female line and exited her maiden score in good order, posting a trio of morning moves in anticipation for this endeavor. She will be fourth or fifth in the early portion of this affair and improve her position as the race goes on. I think she puts them away late en route to her first black-type tally with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the silks once again. 

Speed is always a danger in races on the main strip at The Spa, especially in contests going this distance or longer. And #4 Striker Has Dial (3-1) will almost surely be on top in the early stages of the heat. The Horacio De Paz charge followed up her easy debut win with a clear second behind the fleet Ways and Means last time out, and there are no fillies resembling that classy sort in this spot. The dark bay daughter of Dialed In could get brave if left alone for too long with Kendrick Carmouche up. 

Of the Todd Pletcher duo, #3 Courbe (6-1) has appeal to me for a few reasons. The homebred is 2-for-3 during her brief career and looks to be training well in advance her 2024 bow. She is bred to improve with experience, and while she didn’t beat much in her allowance victory at Keeneland in her juvenile finale, she really did it well rallying off of a slow pace en route to victory. I don’t envision her winning the event, but a top-three placing is well within reach under Luis Saez.