Belle Gallantey (After Market–Revealed, by Old Trieste), former claimer turned multiple Grade I-winning millionaire, has been retired following her second-place effort in yesterday's Ladies H. and will be bred to Pioneer of the Nile (Empire Maker), said co-owner Michael Dubb.
“It was time,” explained Dubb. “She gave us thrills of a lifetime. But the experience of sending her to the Breeders' Cup and then straight to the Fasig-Tipton November sale took a lot out of her physically.”
Belle Gallantey, who competed in lower-level races on the California and New York circuits earlier in her career, was claimed out of her 36th career start by Dubb in partnership with Bethlehem Stables LLC and Gary Aisquith for $35,000. Joining the Rudy Rodriguez barn Dec. 13, 2013, the chestnut followed with three consecutive wins at Aqueduct and Belmont Park, quickly ascending to Grade I company in 2014.
Fifth in the GI Ogden Phipps S. at Belmont behind Close Hatches (First Defence) and Princess of Sylmar (Majestic Warrior) June 7, she defeated the latter rival next out to capture the GI Delaware H. July 12. The mare added a wire-to-wire, tour-de-force victory in the GI Beldame S. Sept. 27 two starts later, earning a spot in the starting gate for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.
“She's special,” said Dubb. “She was bred by the Wygods, and if you look back, her third dam is [1990 champion juvenile filly] Meadow Star (Meadowlake). So she has the blood in her, and we were successful in figuring out that she wanted to go long. She had a few issues when we got her, but we fixed them, and we never dreamt she would be what she is.”
Following a ninth-place finish in the Distaff, Belle Gallantey brought $750,000 at Fasig November sale from buyer SF Bloodstock LLC. She was subsequently leased back to Dubb and Bethlehem Stables for her two-start campaign in 2015.
“I appreciate that the purchasers were game and wanted to give her every opportunity to continue her career,” the owner acknowledged. “But she really needed a proper rest–three or four months–to recover from that experience, on top of a nice campaign last year.”
SF Bloodstock, who mutually agreed to retire Belle Gallantey, will retain her breeding rights. While Dubb now parts ways with his mare, he says he holds great interest in seeing her future foals.
“It's bittersweet,” he concluded. “It will be a missing stall in the barn. I'll always remember the stall she stood in, but this is a happy ending. She's six years old now, so it's time. On top of that, the trainer reported to me after the race that he felt that she was a little bit in heat. So I think the stars lined up and there was a message that was sent to us.”
Bred by Pam and Martin Wygod in Kentucky, Belle Gallantey sold for $10,000 as a Keeneland September yearling and progressed to a $30,000 Pegasus February juvenile purchase by Stuart Carmichael, Peter Tom & Glen Todd, whose colors she carried in her first three career starts at Hastings Park.
In total, Belle Gallantey retires with a record of 45-9-12-7 for a total of $1,114,270 in earnings.
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