“Precocious, funny, spicy, and energetic” are the words that Dan Barraclough used to describe Bellacose  as a foal, and apparently not much has changed as the filly has gotten older.

“She has a little bit of sass to her,” said trainer Jeremiah Englehart. “I like the fillies that have that attitude. I’ll often go into the stall with my horses to try to get them to lie down, and when I do it with her, she absolutely lets me know that I’m bothering her. She’d rather fire at me with both hind legs than have me sit with her.” 

Her name presumably representing this side of her personality, Bellacose didn’t need to draw on any aggressive reserves to romp to victory in her debut at Saratoga Race Course. In a maiden special weight against seven other New York-bred fillies, Bellacose made short work of her rivals, going to the lead under Manny Franco and never letting her rivals get within less than a length of her. She hit the wire 10 3/4 lengths in front. 

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