Picture: Hodges Images / Lou Hodges Jr.
stunning dancer She remained undefeated with a hard-fought victory within the Grade 2 $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes on the Fairgrounds on Saturday by a half-length, incomes 50 Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying factors and topping the leaderboard with 60 factors.
The three-year-old Godolphin horse was despatched out as the favourite with a report of 4 wins and 5 losses, and rapidly took the lead below jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Chased from the surface in 46.98 seconds by means of the primary half mile, the Avenue Sense offspring was below stress on the flip house and was led by Love Your Neighbor. On the eighth pole, Bella Ballerina switched to proper lead (right) on the within of Love Your Neighbor and gamely fought again to win the 1 1/16-mile remaining time of 1:43.38 on the quick monitor.
“She was properly relaxed heading into the far flip for me, however she needed to combat till the top to get it achieved,” Gaffalione stated. “I assumed she could be a bit uninterested in me, however the extra I requested her, the additional she dug.”
Gaffalione gained the Risen Star Stakes (G2) one race later driving Paladin.
The filly has been on hiatus since successful the Goldenrod Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in late November, enhancing her report to three:3-0-0 and incomes $481,000 in profession winnings. She paid $3.60, $2.60, and $2.10.
“Hats off to her, she fought exhausting in a scenario the place she might have misplaced,” coach Brendan Walsh stated. “I feel she’ll enhance so much from her run at present. She in all probability wanted a race at present. I used to be nonetheless capable of get the job achieved.”
Vera Ballerina’s half-sister Fairly Mischievous can also be a Godolphin homebred produced by Walsh and gained the Kentucky Oaks (G1) over Rachel Alexandra three years in the past.
Luv Your Neighbor earned 25 Oaks qualifying factors and presently holds 40 factors. I returned $5.00 and $3.60. Simply Singing got here in a belated third place, scoring 15 factors for a complete of 18 factors. She paid $2.40 for the present. Powered by Household positioned 4th with 10 factors, whereas Basic Information positioned fifth with 5 factors. Majestical accomplished the six-man subject.
Because the race took its present title after Corridor of Fame mare Rachel Alexandra in 2010, 5 winners have dominated the Kentucky Oaks (G1): Good Cheer (2025), Fairly Mischievous (2023), Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Lady (2018) and Untapable (2014). Title modifications embody Summerly (2005), Silverbulletday (1999), Blushing KD (1997), and Tiffany Lass (1986) who achieved the identical feat.
The ultimate spherical of the Fairgrounds Sequence for 3-year-old fillies, the Fairgrounds Oaks (G2), will probably be held on Saturday, March twenty first, the day of the Louisiana Derby.
