A full sister to 1886 American co-champion 3-year-old male Inspector B., Bella B. was a fine runner in her own right and was considered one of the two best American 3-year-old fillies of 1888, though her form deteriorated afterward. She was more successful as a racer than as a broodmare in a producing career hampered by frequent barrenness, but two daughters did become stakes producers.
Race record
Full record unknown
1888:
1889:
1890:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1888)
As an individual
A bay mare standing a shade over 16 hands, Bella B. did not race at 2 but was hardy enough to make 24 starts as a 3-year-old. She was said to have borne a close resemblance to her brother, Inspector B., but unlike him became difficult and temperamental as she grew older and was considered a thoroughly unreliable race mare after the summer of her 4-year-old season.
As a producer
Bella B. produced five named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Tennessee, Bella B. was bred by General William G. Harding’s Belle Meade Stud. She was owned by the Dwyer Brothers and was trained by Frank McCabe. As a broodmare, she was owned by James Ben Ali Haggin through the foaling season of 1901, after which she passed to the ownership of Henry Oxnard’s Blue Ridge Stud. She disappears from the produce records after going barren in 1902-1906.
Pedigree notes
Bella B. Is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten champion American Eclipse. She is a full sister to 1886 American co-champion 3-year-old male Inspector B.; to Callatine, dam of multiple stakes winner St. Callatine (by St. Carlo); and to Columbine, dam of juvenile stkes winner Our Gertie (by Salvator). Bella B. is also a half sister to 1884 Sheridan Stakes winner Koskiusko (by Kyrle Daly) and juvenile stakes winner Utica (by Iroquois).
Bella B. was produced from the Ruric mare Rurica, whose Lexington half sister to Margretta is the dam of California stakes winner and early Japanese stallion Bradley (by the unbeaten Lexington son Norfolk). The sisters’ dam Eleanor Margrave was sired by 1832 St. Leger Stakes winner Margrave (an important broodmare sire in the United States) out of the Silverheels mare Fanny Wright.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 19, 2023
Race record
Full record unknown
1888:
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Ladies’ Handicap (USA, 10FD, Jerome Park)
- Won Mermaid Stakes (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Scepter Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Gravesend)
- Won Vestal Stakes (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Hunter Stakes (USA, 14FD, Jerome Park)
- 2nd Tidal Stakes (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Iroquois Stakes (USA, 10F+60yD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Second Special Stakes (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Gazelle Stakes (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Monmouth Oaks (USA, 10FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Omnibus Stakes (USA, 12FD, Monmouth)
1889:
- 3rd Knickerbocker Handicap (USA, 11FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Midsummer Handicap (USA, 8FD, Monmouth)
1890:
- Set a new American record of 1:23-1/2 for 7 furlongs over the straight course at Monmouth
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1888)
As an individual
A bay mare standing a shade over 16 hands, Bella B. did not race at 2 but was hardy enough to make 24 starts as a 3-year-old. She was said to have borne a close resemblance to her brother, Inspector B., but unlike him became difficult and temperamental as she grew older and was considered a thoroughly unreliable race mare after the summer of her 4-year-old season.
As a producer
Bella B. produced five named foals. Her important foals are as follow:
- Bellane (1896, by Tenny) produced multiple stakes winner St. Bellane (by St. Gatien) and stakes winner Helene (by Hermis). She is also the third dam of 1929 Stars and Stripes Handicap winner Dowagiac.
- Gatien Belle (1900, by St. Gatien) produced 1915 Juvenile Stakes winner Lena Misha (by King James).
Connections
Foaled in Tennessee, Bella B. was bred by General William G. Harding’s Belle Meade Stud. She was owned by the Dwyer Brothers and was trained by Frank McCabe. As a broodmare, she was owned by James Ben Ali Haggin through the foaling season of 1901, after which she passed to the ownership of Henry Oxnard’s Blue Ridge Stud. She disappears from the produce records after going barren in 1902-1906.
Pedigree notes
Bella B. Is inbred 4x5 to the unbeaten champion American Eclipse. She is a full sister to 1886 American co-champion 3-year-old male Inspector B.; to Callatine, dam of multiple stakes winner St. Callatine (by St. Carlo); and to Columbine, dam of juvenile stkes winner Our Gertie (by Salvator). Bella B. is also a half sister to 1884 Sheridan Stakes winner Koskiusko (by Kyrle Daly) and juvenile stakes winner Utica (by Iroquois).
Bella B. was produced from the Ruric mare Rurica, whose Lexington half sister to Margretta is the dam of California stakes winner and early Japanese stallion Bradley (by the unbeaten Lexington son Norfolk). The sisters’ dam Eleanor Margrave was sired by 1832 St. Leger Stakes winner Margrave (an important broodmare sire in the United States) out of the Silverheels mare Fanny Wright.
Fun facts
- Bella B. (originally registered as “Jessie B.”) was named for a daughter of New York City police inspector Thomas Byrnes, who was the namesake for Inspector B..
- Bella B. and Inspector B. won races on the same card at Gravesend on May 20, 1889. They were both entered in Brighton Beach’s Bay Ridge Handicap of June 22, 1889, with Inspector B. winning the race and Bella B. finishing last of seven.
Last updated: April 19, 2023