Ballet Diva Redeems Herself in Susan's Girl
After finishing a disappointing third in the opening leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series last month, Jacks or Better Farm’s Ballet Diva proved she still is the top 2-year-old filly in South Florida with a game length victory in the $300,000 Susan’s Girl division of the Sire Stakes Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
Hustled out of the gate by jockey Jose Caraballo - back in the saddle after sitting out the Desert Vixen with a broken toe - Ballet Diva went straight to the front in a full field of 12 Florida Sire Stakes nominated fillies and stayed there. Flanked by Desert Vixen winner It’s High Time and grassy maiden winner Shakakan through a 22.63-second first quarter, Ballet Diva broke lose to assume a clear advantage when clocking the half-mile in 45.57 seconds. Rounding the turn into the stretch, It’s High Time tried to put the pressure on Ballet Diva and was hard ridden by Edgard Zayas, but the leader still appeared to be going comfortably. In the lane, It’s High Time gave way as Ballet Diva kept on; the only challenger making up any ground was stablemate Silent Prayer, who closed for second after also checking in as the runner-up in the Desert Vixen. It’s High Time held on for third, proving her own legitimacy following her Desert Vixen upset win. The final time for the seven-furlong contest was 1:26.12.
“She put away the ones that were pushing her and had enough to hold off (Silent Prayer),” said winning trainer Stanley Gold, who with the win notched his 17th victory in a Florida Sire Stakes 2-year-old race and 18th overall.
"It was a good trip,” Caraballo added.“I had to work on her a little bit. I had pressure from the beginning to the end, but she came through. She's a nice filly. I've always liked her. Last time I couldn't ride her, but [Gold] said I could ride her back and I was happy to hear that. I want to thank Stanley and the owners for the opportunity to get back on her, I appreciate it. She handled the track great. Every time I ride her, she does anything I ask her. She was under the gun early and she handled it."
Ballet Diva, a small-boned daughter of Hear No Evil, became the worst-kept secret in South Florida after winning her first two starts, including the July 5 Cassidy Stakes, by a combined 16 ¾ lengths in dominant, front-running fashion. Bet down to 1-5 in Desert Vixen, she failed to reach the front at any stage of the race and finished a puzzling third, but the loss did nothing to deter Gold, who had an easy explanation for the off-character performance.
“I don’t think she was handling the track [in the Desert Vixen],” he said. “She was sliding. She handled it today, but the stretch got longer though. By the eighth-pole it looked like there was another mile to go. The other one [Silent Prayer] almost caught her.”
Gold noted that Ballet Diva sustained a cut on the outside of her right hind leg during the Susan’s Girl but that it did not appear serious.
“You always think, all things being equal, that the bigger horse wins because she’s got the bigger stride,” Gold said, explaining his training exacta. “Maybe things aren’t equal and the smaller horse is striding faster. She got it done.”
The final leg of the Florida Sire Stakes filly series, the $500,000 My Dear Girl division on Oct. 3, remains the next goal for Ballet Diva. The 6-5 second choice, she returned $5.40 to win, while Silent Prayer returned a generous $13.80 to place and It’s High Time paid $4.20 to show. Secret War finished fourth, followed by My Good Venezuela, High End Queen, Charming Fantasy, post-time favorite and New York shipper Big Thrill, Enterprising Lady, Shakakan, Shockdedue and Tiz Alta.
Source: Gulfstream Park