Bella Ballerina remained undefeated when she pulled out a hard-fought victory last month in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at the Fair Grounds.
That triumph, her third, moved Bella Ballerina into the top ranks of Kentucky Oaks (G1) contenders. She takes the next step Saturday in the $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), the key race this weekend for 3-year-old fillies with Kentucky Oaks aspirations.
The race awards the winner 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Oaks, more than enough to ensure a starting berth. Based on her record and stakes success over this surface, Bella Ballerina is the 7-5 favorite to extend the unbeaten streak with Tyler Gaffalione aboard for trainer Brendan Walsh.
It’s hard to argue with perfection, but given our nature, let’s quibble a bit. Bella Ballerina showed heart and determination in the Rachel Alexandra, battling back to reclaim the lead after Luv Your Neighbor poked a head in front in the stretch.
Bella Ballerina had an inside position in that showdown on a day with a discernible inside speed bias on the main track. She prevailed by a half-length at 4-5 over Luv Your Neighbor, who returns for a rematch.
“I thought she was getting a little tired of me, but the more I asked of her, the more she dug in,” Gaffalione said after the race.
There is a subtle shift in posts for this confrontation with Luv Your Neighbor (the 7-2 second choice), breaking from post 4 with Bella Ballerina one slot to her outside.
Given the recent history, it could be a heck of a battle right from the start.
Therein lies the danger for backers of a short-priced favorite. A ding-dong fight for every inch of New Orleans real estate could leave both vulnerable.
Luv Your Neighbor has been competitive in all four races at the Fair Grounds but has yet to close the deal with four straight seconds. Close but no cigars.
And then there is the Brad Cox factor. The trainer has won this race four times, including last year with Good Cheer on her way to eventual victory in the Kentucky Oaks.
Cox sends out Life of Joy (the 4-1 third choice), who was a solid second in her season debut, the Suncoast Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
Perhaps we’ve been quibbling too much. After all, Bella Ballerina checks a lot of boxes. She is unbeaten. She is blessed with enough speed to dictate her fate in any race. She is not short on pedigree as a homebred for the powerful Godolphin Stable; Bella Ballerina is a half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous.
So, on to the selections:
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miss Metoyer | E Santiago | B Chatters | 20/1 |
| 2 | Newtown Pike | F Arrieta | L Schultz | 8/1 |
| 3 | Maximum Offer | B J Hernandez, Jr. | K G McPeek | 8/1 |
| 4 | Luv Your Neighbor | L Saez | M Stidham | 7/2 |
| 5 | Bella Ballerina | T Gaffalione | B P Walsh | 7/5 |
| 6 | Life of Joy | F Prat | B H Cox | 4/1 |
| 7 | Love and Trust | J L Ortiz | C DeVau | 9/2 |
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
