by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — For nearly all of her two-year career, Bell On Wheels, who is currently tied for the most wins in North America this year, has competed over the ovals at the Pennsylvania fairgrounds, but her connections have a different plan for her 4-year-old campaign.

“I think right now we are just going to concentrate on racing her at The Meadows,” explained Sally Bolon, who conditions the filly with her husband Rodney. “Athough she has more than 30 wins, she doesn’t have a pari-mutuel one, so she can fit in a maiden pace and gradually work her way up. She’s going to be racing against a lot of horses that have hardly raced at all and hopefully, will be able to go some easy races until she has to move up against some of the tougher fillies and mares.”

Previously owned, trained and driven by Roger Hammer of Bedford, Pa., the daughter of Western Hanover-Bellys Up was purchased by James Snyder of Wooster, Ohio, earlier this fall. The filly has earned $104,986, triumphed in 32 of her 52 race miles, possesses a career mark of 1:58.2h and is tied with the 4-year-old pacing mare Shortest Distance for the most victories (20) on the continent in 2009.

Until she was defeated by a neck on October 10 at The Meadows in the $29,229 Pennsylvania Fair Final for her age and gender, Bell On Wheels had captured 20 straight races since a third place finish in an $8,500 non-winners of three contest at Harrah’s Chester on June 22.

Ryan Zidek photo

Bell On Wheels won 32 races over the past two years for Roger Hammer.

“We are really good friends with Roger and he tends to sell some of his 3-year-olds to focus on the younger horses,” Bolon said. “We are always kind of the first ones that get an opportunity to buy (his horses) and we had been hoping to buy her for quite a few months. We also bought the 3-year-old pacing colt Lahaye and have the same plans for him.”

It was not only the filly’s racing ability that caught Bolon’s eye.

“She is striking when you glance at her and really a beautiful filly,” the Washington, Pa., resident said. “She is dark black with a white star and looks a lot like her dad.

“She has a very good temperament and attitude, so she is actually very pleasant to be around,” Bolon continued. “You can do pretty much what you want with her. She trains free-legged and Roger told us he doesn’t think she needs the hopples to race; we want to try her without them.”

Upon review of her summer schedule, the Bolons decided to turn Bell On Wheels out for a bit and then freshen her up for the winter.

“Roger and my husband talked after the fair meetings ended and we decided she had quite a long summer at the fairs,” Bolon said. “She just came back in. We will get her ready and race her all winter. She should come back strong after this little break.”

After a rough year, the Bolons are hoping the addition of Bell On Wheels to their 20 head will help them round back into form.

“We haven’t had a very good year this year and actually it’s probably one of the worst years we have had out of the last 10 or 15,” Bolon said. “We bought five yearlings and are hoping to get some new faces and better racehorses in the barn, like Bell and Lahaye. We are reloading and trying to start off right for the new year. If only these animals could talk sometimes it would be a lot easier, but that isn’t going to happen, so we will just have to do our best. We love it though.”