Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino
Sunday, February 20, 2022
$100,000 Enchantress Stakes goes to Bella Dona in a romp
The classy New Mexico-bred filly Bella Dona earned her seventh win from eight lifetime starts as she cruised to an easy win in Sunday’s 12th running of the $100,000 Enchantress Stakes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.
Making her first start around two turns, the daughter of Attila’s Storm broke quickly under Luis Fuentes from her outside post and immediately vied for the early lead. She was joined on the far turn to her inside by Delia and Running for Grace, who forced an opening quarter-mile in 22.54 seconds.
Once on the backstretch, Bella Dona quickly drew up alongside the leaders and had the lead entering the far turn. Bella Dona quickly dispatched of her rivals at the head of the lane and assumed a commanding five-length lead before being geared down in the final yards, coasting across the wire to a 1 1/2-length win in a final time for the mile of 1:37.57.
Trained by Simon Buechler and owned by Robert M. and Del Rae Driggers and Ben Lee Ivey, Bella Dona has now won four straight stakes races, most recently in the La Senora Stakes at Sunland Park on Jan. 16. Prior to that, she was victorious in the New Mexico Cup Lassie Stakes at Zia Park on Oct. 31, 2021 and the New Mexico State Fair Futurity at Albuquerque Downs on Sept. 19. She also took top honors in the Rio Grande Senorita Futurity at Ruidoso Downs last summer.
The $60,000 paycheck for her winning effort in the Enchantress pads her career earnings to more than $375,000.
Sent off as the overwhelming post time favorite at odds of 2-to-5, Bella Dona returned $2.80 to her winning backers.
Corrina Corrina finished strongly under jockey Roimes Chirinos to earn the second place spot, well ahead of the rest of the field. The $2 exacta came back $8.60, while Desert Spirit and Right for You rounded out the top four.
Live racing resumes Tuesday, with a nine-race program set to begin at 12:25 p.m.
