Bella Ballerina fights back to take the Rachel Alexandra, Fair Grounds Photo
Fair Grounds Press
New Orleans, La. – Sent as the 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (G2), homebred Godolphin Beautiful dancer rewarded its many backers with victory, but it was far from easy.
Since her victory in the Gulden Rod (G2) in Churchill at the end of November, the 3-year-old daughter of Street Sense under jockey Tyler Gaffalione immediately took the lead. Chased on the outside by a fair opening half-mile in 46.98, Bella Ballerina was dropped off the turn for home but was led by the outside rival at the top of the stretch. At the eighth post, Bella Ballerina switched to her right lead (correctly) on the inside Love your neighbor and fought back bravely to triumph by half a length in a final time of 143.38 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.
“She relaxed well going into the far turn and had to fight all the way to get it done,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who would win the Risen Star (G2) a race later with Paladin. “I thought she was getting a little tired of me, but the more I asked of her, the more she got into it.”
With the win, Bella Ballerina earned 50 points at the Road to Longines Kentucky Oaks and now sits atop the leaderboard with 60. Luv Your Neighbor (earned 25, now has 40)) was clearly in second for Just sing (earned 15, now has 18), who closed too late for third place. Oaks also earned points for finishing fourth and fifth Made possible by family (10) and Classic guide (5). Majestic crossed the line last in the field of six.
“Hats off to her. She fought hard when she could have been beaten,” coach Brendan Walsh said. “I think she will improve a lot from her run today. She probably needed today’s race. I was still able to get the job done.”
Bella Ballerina’s half-sister Pretty Mischievous, also a Godolphin homdbred trained by Brendan Walsh, won the Rachel Alexandra for the same connections three years ago and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks.
Bella Ballerina is now perfect from three starts with a career bankroll of $481,000. She paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. Luv Your Neighbor returned $5.00 and $3.60 and Just Singing paid $2.40 to show.
Since the race was renamed in 2010 in honor of Hall of Fame filly Rachel Alexandra, five fillies have turned a victory in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes into a victory in the Kentucky Oaks: Good Cheer (2025), Pretty Mischievous (2023), Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Girl (2018) and Untapable (2014). Prior to the new name, Summerly (2005), Silverbulletday (1999), Blushing KD (1997) and Tiffany Lass (1986) also won both races.
The final leg of the Fair Grounds series for 3-year-old fillies is the Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) held on Louisiana Derby Day, Saturday, March 21.
Additional quotes:
Luv Your Neighbor’s jockey Luis Saez, who finished in second place
“I had Bella Ballerina under pressure all the way. I had the horse, but as soon as she opened up she just stopped.”
John Velazquez, Just Singing’s jockey, who finished in third place
“She ran a good race. I thought the two best fillies would come back to me, but that never happened.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey of Powered by Family, who finished in fourth place
“I was able to break her well and bring her a lot closer than before, without overdoing it. She is a very nice filly. She just broke her maiden, it was a big step forward.”
Majestical’s jockey Ben Curtis, who finished in sixth place
“I rode beautifully to quarter pole. And it was a long way home from there, but the front two accelerated really well. That was only her third run – she will take a step forward.”
#Bella #Ballerina #play #victory #Rachel #Alexandra