Grade II Winner Bella Bellucci Retired

Michael Tabor's grade II winner Bella Bellucci has been retired from racing and will be bred to Thunder Gulch. The announcement of her retirement came after the 4-year-old French Deputy filly ran third in the March 9 Santa Margarita Handicap (gr. I).

Bella Bellucci, bred by Nick Lotz and a $925,000 purchase at the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Florida 2-year-old sale, finished in the top three in 11 of her 12 starts. She won the Astarita (gr. II) as a 2-year-old in her second start and took the Comely (gr. III) and Santa Paula Stakes the following year. Four of her six stakes-placings came in grade I races, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Bella Bellucci, who was produced from the stakes-winning Classic Go Go mare Blue Avenue, won five races and earned $511,820. Thunder Gulch was 1995 champion 3-year-old male for Tabor.