PRE-RACE favorite Tell Bell topped the Philippine Racing Commission (Philracom) 2023 3YO Maiden Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas, over the weekend.
The Sakima out of Don’t Tell Ella progeny bred by the SC Stockfarm dictated the pace in the entire 1,400-meter journey to dominate in one minute and 26.20 seconds 1with quarters of 13′-22′-23′-27.
The Donnie Sordan-trained and Jonathan Hernandez-mounted three-year-old chestnut filly out of Bell Racing Stable’ didn’t mind the pressure applied by outsider Melania and Grandi Moments.
In the final stretch, Tell Bell looked like she was “taking a walk in the park” with the closest challenger a good three lengths off.
Prime Billing’s late charge got him to salvage second place while Glamour Girle settled for third as Melania held on for fourth.
“I made sure we had a good jump from the gate and I noticed she didn’t feel the pressure from the others,” former Jockey of the Year winner Hernandez said.
“Congratulations to Tell Bell, Elmer de Leon and Bell Racing Stable, Donnie Sordan and Jonathan Hernandez for bagging this victory,” Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon said. Up next is the Commissioners’ Cup Divisions 2 and 3 races on February 25 and the main event Division 1 on February 26.