Bella Sofia

A Kentucky-bred daughter of Awesome Patriot, Bella Sofia won her career debut by a blowout 11 ¼ lengths in a six-furlong race at Belmont Park on May 6. She finished second in her second start, the listed Jersey Girl Stakes at Belmont, but then romped by 6 ½ lengths in an allowance optional claiming race leading up to the Test.

Bella Sofia was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Longines Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 7, 2021. She pressed the pace on the outside, then drew away in the stretch for a powerful 4 1/4-length win. She covered seven furlongs in 1:21.54 for trainer Rudy Rodriguez and jockey Luis Saez.

In her first start after the Test, Bella Sofia further burnished her credentials as a leading contender in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by winning the 6 ½-furlong, Grade 2 Gallant Bloom Handicap by 3 ½ lengths at Belmont on Sept. 26.

Bella Sofia ended her 2021 season with a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 6.

On May 14, 2022, Bella Sofia made her 4-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap at Belmont Park. She went off as a heavy 2-5 favorite, but had to work for the victory in the stretch. She battled all the way down the lane with Frank's Rockette, ultimately winning a head-bob photo finish. In her next start, Bella Sofia was once again sent off as the odds-on favorite. The 3-4 choice defeated Grade 1 winner Obligatory by a half-length in the Grade 2 Bed o’Roses Stakes June 10 at Belmont Park, improving to five-for-six in her career at the Elmont, N.Y. track.

Bella Sofia is owned by Michael Imperio, Medallion Racing, Sofia Soares, Vincent Scudari and Parkland Thoroughbreds. She was purchased for only $20,000 at the Ocala July 2-year-old auction in 2020.