Washington, PA —  When 26 freshman filly trotters get their first taste of stake action in Saturday’s (July 1) $162,944 Pennsylvania Sires Stake at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, much of the attention will be focused on Bella Bellissima (Father Patrick-Bella Dolce). Why? She’s a half-sister to Bella Bellini, one of the sport’s top distaff trotters who’s won two consecutive Dan Patch Awards.

The stake, known as the Meadow Gladys, goes as races one, three, five and six, with Bella Bellissima and Doug McNair leaving from post four, race three. The 14-race card also features an $80,000 PA Stallion Series event for 2-year-old filly trotters, meaning that a total of 54 freshman filly trotters will see stake action. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Although not precocious at 2 when she lost all seven starts, Bella Bellini, a daughter of Bar Hopping, won the Dan Patch Award in 2021 at 3 and again last year, earning more than $2.1 million along the way — and she’s back racing this year.

Owner James Avritt Sr. purchased Bella Dolce in 2020, bred her to Father Patrick and retained Bella Bellissima for his own account. How does the youngster compare to her half-sister at this early stage? Trainer Gregg McNair gives her a strong review that falls a tad short of a rave.

“She trained down like a nice filly, never did too much wrong,” he says. “She’s aggressive enough. Maybe a month ago we switched her to an open bridle. She got a lot easier to manage. She always seems in a bit of a hurry to do things.

“She doesn’t look as big yet as her sister; she doesn’t carry a lot of weight. She keeps herself busy walking in her stall. If there’s a bunch of action going on, she gets a little nervous.”

The trainer indicates he expects Bella Bellissima to ship well

“She’s all right in the trailer. How she’ll be in a strange spot you don’t know.”

Bella Bellissima performed quite capably in a June 15 qualifier, trotting to a place finish in 2:01.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. If she shows she’s competitive, she’ll have plenty of stakes engagements.

“She has a full dance card,” Gregg McNair says. “I don’t know if we’ll follow Pennsylvania stakes around. This is the first one, and it’s not that far away from us. We can race at The Meadows and make it back home for evening racing.”

Of the 54 fillies in the eight stake divisions, 34 will be facing the starter for the first time.