Ballet Diva faces off against familiar foes in Meadow Star

Jacks or Better Farm’s Ballet Diva will attempt to turn the tables on R Kinsley Doll when the two fillies face off again in the $150,000 Florida Sire Meadow Star Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

 

After an uncharacteristically dull sixth-place finish in the $150,000 Florida Sire Three Ring Stakes on August 6, the diminutive filly was discovered to have a minor throat problem. She underwent a brief procedure and returned to her earlier form when second in the $150,000 Jewel Princess division on September 3. 

 

“Her last race was much improved,” trainer Mark Casse said. "After her start before, when she ran poorly, she had an entrapped epiglottis. We didn’t know about that until after she ran. It’s a minor surgical procedure that’s done most of the time when the horse is standing up. The recovery period is two or three days. We took care of that and that’s the reason she ran so much better the next time. She’s doing well now.”

 

Ballet Diva will be joined in the Meadow Star starting gate by fellow Jacks or Better stablemate Silent Prayer. Silent Prayer and Luca Panici drew the two hole, while Ballet Diva and Edgard Zayas will start from post four.

 

Averill Racing and Silver Oak Stable’s R Kinsley Doll posted a mild upset in the Three Ring before scoring as the favorite in the Jewel Princess. The daughter of Big Drama has now earned $238,085 for her connections. Drawn on the outside in the five-filly field, R Kinsley Doll will have the services of jockey Tyler Gaffalione.