Claim Watch: Bella Maria

This durable daughter of Buffum is entered for $5,000 on Tuesday

Buffum is one of those regional stallions who I believe did not get the support he deserved as a stallion, and while he only had 52 foals prior to his untimely death, I believe his daughters will prove to be useful producers. The son of Bernardini from the elite Stick to Beauty female family entered stud at Northview Stallion Station in 2014 and while he was not an immediate hit with breeders, his foals proved their mettle on the track. From 52 foals, Buffum has 35 winners (67.3%) and five stakes winners (9.6%). His average earnings per starter is an impressive $95,870.

Bella Maria has earned her $118,308 the hard way, with three wins, three seconds, and six thirds in 41 career starts. She’s proven durable, starting seven times as a three-year-old, 17 last year, and 17 so far in 2024 in her five-year-old season, and while she is far from an elite talent, I believe she could be a useful producer for a small regional operation. Her sire figures to be a useful broodmare sire, as a son of the excellent broodmare sire Bernardini from a very deep female family. Bella Maria is inbred 4x4 to the excellent broodmare Weekend Surprise via half-brothers A.P. Indy and Honor Grades.