Pre-race favorite Tell Bell with jockey Jonathan Hernandez.
Tell Bell in easy win at MMTC
PRE-race favorite Bell Racing Stable’s Tell Bell took home the Philracom 2023 3YO Maiden Stakes in wire-to-wire fashion at the Metro Manila Turf Club in Malvar, Batangas.
The Sakima out of Don’t Tell Ella progeny bred by the SC Stockfarm dictated the pace of the whole 1400-meter journey clocking 1:26.2 with quarters of 13′-22′-23′-27.
The Donnie Sordan-trained and Jonathan Hernandez-mounted three-year-old chestnut filly simply did not mind the pressure being applied by outsider Melania and Grandi Moments as traversed out of the chute.
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,” said former Jockey of the Year winner Hernandez 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 February 25, while the main event Division 1 will be on February 26,” said Philracom Chairman Reli de Leon.
