BELLA ELLA TAKES REMINGTON PARK THURSDAY FEATURE FOR SECOND CONSECUTIVE VICTORY

For Immediate Release
Thursday, November 5, 2026

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel has tried to get Bella Ella a race on the grass two times in a row at Remington Park without any luck. However, Bella Ella has won both of those races, taken off the turf, and run on the main track.

One couldn’t blame Von Hemel, an Oklahoma Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer, if he started charting the 24-hour Weather Channel to choose races for this 3-year-old Kentucky-bred filly. Bella Ella, a daughter of Munnings, out of the Tapit mare Tapella, was supposed to race 7-1/2 furlongs on the turf at Remington Park on Oct. 1. However, the turf course was deemed too damp so the race was moved to a fast main track at a mile. She handled her foes that night by 1-1/4 lengths against maiden special weight company to graduate.

On Thursday night, the same thing happened. Bella Ella was supposed to run for the second time on turf at 7-1/2 furlongs, but heavy rains during the afternoon into the evening, forced the action off the grass and to a sloppy main track to go one mile. The sophomore filly had no problem with the switch against allowance foes all searching for their second career win. Jockey David Cabrera was aboard Bella Ella for both wins. Thursday’s victory was by 1-1/2 lengths as the 9-5 wagering favorite.

Bella Ella split horses around the turn, traveling from last in the field of eight. She drew even with Contrary Mary, Inca Code and Wild Impulse at the top of the stretch before finding more to pull away in the final 100 yards. The filly, owned by Cheyenne Stables (Everett Dobson) of Oklahoma City, cut into fractions set by Myrna (52-1) in the early going. She had set an average pace of :23.70 for the first quarter-mile and :48.48 for the half-mile before fading to last. When the front-runners hit the three-quarters mark in 1:14, Bella Ella quickly approached with a momentous move that was too much to repel. She crossed the finish in 1:39.92.

Bella Ella paid $5.80 to win, $3.40 to place and $2.20 to show. Inca Code (7-2) checked in second, a neck in front of Wild Impulse (5-2) in third.

Bella Ella earned $23,202 from the $39,000 purse and improved her lifetime record to six starts with two wins and no other on-the-board finishes. She has a career bankroll of $51,702. Bella Ella was bred by Candy Meadows, another entity owned by Dobson.

Remington Park racing continues Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 & 7, with the first race nightly at 6:30pm-Central.

Remington Park has provided more than $432 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. Remington Park’s marquee event for 2-year-old Thoroughbreds is the Springboard Mile. A qualifying points race for the 2027 Kentucky Derby, the Springboard will be contested on Saturday, Dec. 19. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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