LOUISVILLE, KY – MAY 02: Untapable #13, ridden by Rosie Napravnik, and My Miss Sophia #11, ridden by Javier Castellano, lead the field during the 140th running of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 2, 2014 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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Godolphin’s homebred 2-year-old filly Bella Ballerina overcame a hot early pace and a wide early deficit, launching her bid around the far turn before digging in late to secure victory in the 82nd running of the $397,375 Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill Downs. The Brendan Walsh trainee held off a surging Atropa to prevail by a shrinking half-length.
Bella Ballerina, who dominated her Oct. 5 Keeneland debut by 4 ¼ lengths and is a half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks champion Pretty Mischievous, covered the 1 1/16-mile distance over a fast track in 1:43.50. A field of 10 juvenile fillies went postward, and Tyler Gaffalione was aboard for the win.
“It’s amazing ever since she ran the first time she appears to be becoming more and more like (Pretty Mischievous),” Walsh said. “We loved her sister and hopefully this one will be just as good.”
The win continued Godolphin’s recent success in this race. Last year, stablemate Good Cheer took the Golden Rod by 2 ½ lengths before eventually capturing the Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) this spring under Brad Cox and jockey Luis Saez.
With Saturday’s score, Bella Ballerina earned the $238,440 winner’s share and picked up 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks. The Golden Rod is a Prep Season event, awarding points on a 10-5-3-2-1 scale to the top five finishers.
Drama unfolded at the break when Essential Coffee, a 65-1 outsider, stumbled and unseated jockey Corey Lanerie. Meanwhile, Letmecounttheways, winner of New York’s $200,000 Maid of the Mist, sprinted clear and set sharp fractions of :23.45, :46.31 and 1:11.19. Bella Ballerina tracked in second, several lengths back but clearly best of the rest.
As the pacesetter began to fade turning for home, Bella Ballerina took aim, seizing command inside the final furlong. She drifted back to her left lead in the final sixteenth as Atropa, Just Singing, and Life of Joy mounted their rallies, but she held firm to the wire.
“Going from a sprint to her first time around two turns there can always be some questions but we were confident in her that she’d be able to handle it today,” Gaffalione said. “All the credit goes to Brendan and his team for having her ready to do that. She really showed up for us today. It just made my job easier.”
Off at 4-1 as the third choice, Bella Ballerina returned $10.28, $6.12 and $4.76. Atropa, also 4-1, paid $4.92 and $3.66, while Just Singing finished another half-length behind at 6-1 and returned $3.86.
Life of Joy—the Rags to Riches winner and 5-2 favorite—checked in fourth, followed by Letmecounttheways, Vita Mia, Baracca, Coco Connect and Raspberry. Essential Coffee was safely caught by outriders. Scratches included Explora, The Grumpy Rabbit, and Wonzee Weather.
The victory boosts Bella Ballerina’s career bankroll to $301,525.
“Early in the race I was just hoping we were in the right spot,” Walsh said. “Everyone has been on the pace this weekend that has been running well. It was a little bit of a weird race. Tyler said he smooched at her around the three-eighths pole and took off. She just got a little tired late and that’s what’s to be expected going two turns for the first time. She passed with flying colors.”
Bella Ballerina is a daughter of Street Sense, the 2007 Kentucky Derby champion, and out of the Tapit mare Pretty City Dancer, winner of the Grade I Spinaway. The bay filly was bred in Kentucky.
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