Ivy Bell wins for first graded stakes victory

Despite a bobble at the start and having to overcome heavy traffic at the head of the stretch, Ivy Bell prevailed to earn her first graded stakes win by a length in taking the $200,000 GII Inside Information Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking from the inside post, Ivy Bell did not break cleanly, which allowed Rich Mommy to set the early pace in the 7-furlong affair. Moonlit Promise came up to challenge with Ivy Bell, under Javier Castellano, stalking and saving ground two lengths off as the field of seven rounded the far turn.

When the tightly bunched group turned for home, Ivy Bell looked to be blocked in but Castellano moved her four wide in the early stretch and she went confidently to the wire to win the race in 1:23.29.

“I had a perfect trip. That’s what I was looking for, Castellano said, “I saved all the ground, I tipped outside. I was kind of concerned a little because everyone hooked up in the same spot, but I had so much confidence.”

Castellano rode four winners on the day.

The win was Ivy Bell’s first under the tutelage of trainer Todd Pletcher.

Now that the daughter of Archarcharch has notched her first graded stakes win, Pletcher said that she is likely to go back to Churchill Downs, her home track where she has had most of her success to date, for her next race.

“We have a couple of options. We will see how things go,” Pletcher said. “There is a 7 furlong Grade I at Churchill and there is also a mile and a sixteenth there as well. She has always run well at Churchill in the past. That is an option. She has impressed us in training that she can run further than 7 furlongs.”

Jordan’s Henny rallied in the stretch for place. Mines and Magic finished a neck back for show.