Tell Bell lived up to her lofty billing as she ruled the Philracom 2023 3YO Maiden Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion at the Metro Manila Turf Club on Feb. 12 in Malvar, Batangas.
The Sakima out of Don’t Tell Ella progeny and bred by the SC Stockfarm dictated the pace of the1400-meter contest to prevail in 1:26.2 (13′-22′-23′-27).
A rising star of the Bell Racing Stable and trained by Donnie Sordan, the Jonathan Hernandez-mounted three-year-old chestnut filly refused to be the intimidated by the pressure being applied by outsider Melania and Grandi Moments .
Even at 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 had to settle for third as Melania held on for fourth.
“Pinagbuti ko lang yung lundag nung sakay ko tapos napansin kong hindi niya ininda yung pressure nina Melania kaya napalamig ko pa si Tell Bell,” former Jockey of the Year winner Hernandez said in a post-race interview.
“Congratulations to Tell Bell, Elmer de Leon and Bell Racing Stable, Donnie Sordan and Jonathan Hernandez for bagging this victory. Our next event will be the Commissioners’ Cup whose Divisions 2 and 3 will be held on Feb. 25, while the main event Division 1 will be on February 26,” Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon said.
