Bella Ballerina follows Pretty Mischievous in Ky. Oaks prep

Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina, already a Grade 2 winner and a leading prospect for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Bella Ballerina enters the 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-old fillies unbeaten in two starts and following a path similar to that of her accomplished older half sister, Pretty Mischievous. On her way to becoming the 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner and Eclipse Award champion for Walsh and Godolphin, Pretty Mischievous won the Untapable and the Rachel Alexandra and finished second in the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks.

“I don't see any reason why she wouldn’t be (as good as Pretty Mischievous),” Walsh said.

Bella Ballerina has yet to taste defeat. As a 2-year-old, the Street Sense filly debuted Oct. 5 at Keeneland with a 4 1/4-length victory in a maiden special weight sprint before jumping directly into graded company in the Golden Rod (G2) on Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs. Stretching out to 1 1/16 miles for the first time, she tracked a strong early pace under Tyler Gaffalione, took command at the top of the stretch and held on for a half-length victory.

The Golden Rod earned her 10 qualifying points toward the 2026 Kentucky Oaks and marked Godolphin’s 1,500th group- or graded-stakes win worldwide. She received a 79 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form for the effort.

The Rachel Alexandra was identified as Bella Ballerina’s next target shortly after the Golden Rod, and she has trained steadily at Fair Grounds with six published works since early January. Her drills include a five-furlong move in 1:00.20 on Jan. 30, the fastest of 44 at the distance that morning, and a four-furlong breeze in 48.80 seconds on Feb. 7.

“She has been doing great,” Walsh said. “She’s grown and gotten stronger.”

Walsh said returning to Fair Grounds for the Oaks prep series was an easy decision.

“The place's record speaks for itself,” Walsh said. “I wasn't going to bring Bella Ballerina anywhere else. Especially after Pretty (Mischievous). It's a great program down here for 3-year-olds, fillies and colts. It's a top-notch series of races for horses going into the Derby or the Oaks.”

Since the race was renamed in honor of Hall of Fame filly Rachel Alexandra in 2010, five fillies have parlayed a victory in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes into a Kentucky Oaks triumph: Good Cheer (2025), Pretty Mischievous (2023), Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Girl (2018) and Untapable (2014). Before the renaming, Summerly (2005), Silverbulletday (1999), Blushing K. D. (1997) and Tiffany Lass (1986) likewise completed the double.