RUNHAPPY’s Grade 1 winner Nutella Fella added another stakes victory to his resume on Saturday with a win in the Listed Pelican Stakes at Tampa Bay.
Looking to go one better than his runner-up finish in his seasonal debut, Nutella Fella went off as the favorite in this six furlong race. He showed good speed to be part of a five-way duel for the lead down the backstretch before backing off to race just behind the leader.
Nutella Fella had to give up his rail spot when looking for a way to the lead, but shot back down to his original spot when a seam opened racing into the stretch.
The duel that had started early was a big part of the stretch run with Nutella Fella’s late run seeing him finish a neck in front of runner-up Caramel Chip and Life Is Precious another head back in third.
Racing for Bell Gable Stable, the Gary Contesa trainee has now won three of his five starts with two other top three finishes. The 3-year-old won the Hopeful Stakes (G1) as a 2-year-old before finishing third in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) last year.
Bred by Ashview Farm, Nutella Fella is one of two winners from three to run out of Krissy’s Candy. That Candy Ride mare is a half-sister to stakes winner Meal Penalty and the Grade 3 placed Danny Boy among others.
This family also includes RUNHAPPY’s Grade 1 winning stablemate BRIGHT FUTURE, champion Housebuster, and Hong Kong Group 1 winner Victor The Winner.
Krissy’s Candy has a WAR OF WILL colt named Thorsness who sold for $130,000 as a yearling in 2023.