From a female family well acquainted with the Kentucky Oaks, Bella Ballerina (Street Sense x Pretty City Dancer) garnered points towards the first Friday in May with a decisive victory in the Grade Two Golden Rod. The filly is a half-sister to the Brendan Walsh trained Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief x Pretty City Dancer), the 2023 Kentucky Oaks heroine.
Bella Ballerina was an impressive debut winner at Keeneland in October and took a big step forward to secure the win in this Grade Two affair. The bay filly broke sharp from the outside post and got into stride quickly to cross the field and establish position just behind the leader by the first turn. Bella Ballerina relaxed into a nice rhythm in second for jockey Tyler Gaffalione down the backstretch. Gaffalione allowed the filly to pick it up through the far turn and they entered the stretch head to head with the race leader. Bella Ballerina easily saw off that opponent and maintained the lead through the wire to win by half a length. The filly stepped up in a huge way in her first two turn effort.
We are very excited to see how this lightly raced filly will progress as she takes aim at the Kentucky Oaks next year. Congratulations to Owner/Breeder Godolphin and all involved with Bella Ballerina.
