Bella Ballerina battles back to take the Rachel Alexandra, Fair Grounds Photo
Fair Grounds Press
New Orleans, La – Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (G2), the Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina rewarded her many backers with the win, but it was far from easy.
Off since her late November victory in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill, the 3-year-old daughter of Street Sense went right to the lead under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Chased on the outside through an honest opening half mile in 46.98, Bella Ballerina was set down off the turn for home but was headed by the outside rival at the top of the stretch. At the eighth pole Bella Ballerina switched to her right lead (correct) on the inside of Luv Your Neighbor and fought back gamely to prevail by a half length in a final time of 143.38 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.
“She relaxed well for me going into the far turn and had to battle down the stretch to get it done,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who would win the Risen Star (G2) one race later with Paladin. “I thought she was getting a little tired on me but the more I asked of her the more she dug in.”
With the win, Bella Ballerina earned 50 points on the Road to Longines Kentucky Oaks and she now tops the leaderboard with 60. Luv Your Neighbor (earned 25 now has 40)) was a clear second in front of Just Singing (earned 15 now has 18), who closed belatedly for third. Also earning Oaks points for finishing fourth and fifth were Powered by Family (10) and Classic Guide (5). Majestical crossed the line last in the field of six.
“Hats off to her. She fought hard when she could’ve got beat,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “I think she’ll 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 three years ago for the same connections 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 honor of Hall of Fame filly Rachel Alexandra in 2010, five fillies have parlayed a victory in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes into a Kentucky Oaks triumph: Good Cheer (2025), Pretty Mischievous (2023), Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Girl (2018) and Untapable (2014). Prior to the renaming, Summerly (2005), Silverbulletday (1999), Blushing K. D. (1997) and Tiffany Lass (1986) likewise won both races.
The final leg of the Fair Grounds series for 3-year-old fillies is the Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) to be run on Louisiana Derby Day, Saturday March 21.
Additional quotes:
Luis Saez, jockey of second-place finisher Luv Your Neighbor
“I had Bella Ballerina under pressure the whole way. I had the horse but as soon as she opened up she just stopped.”
John Velazquez, jockey of third-place finisher Just Singing
“She ran a good race. I thought the top two fillies would come back to me but they never did.”
Jose Ortiz, jockey of fourth-place finisher Powered by Family
“I was able to break good and put her a lot closer than before without overdoing it. She’s a very very nice filly. She just broke her maiden, it was a big step up.”
Ben Curtis, jockey of sixth-place finisher Majestical
“I traveled beautifully into the quarter pole. And it was a long way home from there, but the front two quickened up very well. That was just her third run – she’ll step forward.”
