Proving that she’s got talent to match her looks, Belle Allure (IRE) gutted out her first U.S. stakes win Wednesday afternoon in the delayed 33rd running of the Grade 3, $106,500 Athenia Stakes going 1 1/16 miles over Belmont Park’s inner turf course.

After tucking in along the rail through moderate early fractions of 24.38 and 48.29 set by longshot Miss Lombardi, jockey Ramon Dominguez found himself trapped inside leaving the turn. Forced to angle Belle Allure out in upper stretch, he was able to split rivals and the filly closed steadily to get up for the win in the final strides, prevailing over Kristi With a K by a head.

Belle Allure’s final time was 1:43.30 over a turf course rated good with the rail set at 27 feet. Originally carded for Saturday, October 17, the Athenia, for fillies and mares 3-and-up, was moved to Wednesday because of inclement weather.

“I was a little concerned when I saw [expected pacesetter] Sunshine for Life didn’t make the lead,” Dominguez said. “It turned out to be kind of a paceless race. We were bunched up the whole race. I was panicking a little bit when we turned for home because there was really no racing room. Eventually, I was able to get my filly out, and she responded pretty well [and] was able to get up.”

The heavy favorite in the field of six, Belle Allure returned $2.90 for a $2 win bet. The 4-year-old daughter of Numerous earned $63,900 for the victory to lift her earnings to $216,392 for Ronchalon Stable and improve her record to 4-1-1 from 13 starts.

“Belle Allure had only had three starts -- four starts with today -- this year,” said winning trainer Christophe Clement, who also saddled third-place finisher Cable. “She’s just been unlucky. It’s been a little bit difficult to find her kind of races, but she’s trained well, and I was pretty confident she’d run a good race today.”

Clement said Belle Allure could make her next start in either the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch at Hollywood Park going a mile on November 28, or the Grade 3, $150,000 Cardinal at Churchill Downs going nine furlongs, November 21.

2008 Athenia winner Sunshine for Life was fourth and Namaste’s Wish and Miss Lombardi completed the order of finish. Rollicking Affair, Don’t Forget Gil and Tidal Dance were scratched.