Bella Ballerina rallies to win Golden Rod at Churchill Downs
Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina rallied from five lengths off a runaway pacesetter, made the first move around the final turn and held on to win Saturday's 82nd running of the Grade 2, $397,375 Golden Rod at Churchill Downs by a half-length over fast-closing Atropa.
The 2-year-old filly, a 4 1/4-length winner in her Oct. 5 debut at Keeneland and a half-sister to 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:43.50 in a field of 10. Tyler Gaffalione rode the winner for trainer Brendan Walsh.
"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 as good."
Godolphin won the Golden Rod with a homebred for the second consecutive year. Good Cheer, who went on to win the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) this spring, prevailed in last year's edition by 2 1/2 lengths under trainer Brad Cox and jockey Luis Saez.
Bella Ballerina collected the $238,440 first prize and 10 points as part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, a 10-5-3-2-1 points prep season race.
Long shot Essential Coffee (65-1) stumbled out of the gate and dropped jockey Corey Lanerie. New York shipper Letmecounttheways, the $200,000 Maid of the Mist winner, ran off to the front and led the field through fractions of 23.45 and 46.31 seconds and 1:11.19 as Bella Ballerina tracked in a clear second several lengths behind.
Bella Ballerina engaged the tiring leader at the head of the stretch and took command with a furlong to run. With Atropa, Just Singing and Life of Joy closing from far back, Bella Ballerina flopped back to her left lead and tired in the final sixteenth of a mile but outlasted her challengers.
"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 made my job easier."
Bella Ballerina paid $10.28, $6.12 and $4.76 as the 4-1 third betting choice. Atropa, under José Ortiz at 4-1, paid $4.92 and $3.66. Just Singing, at 6-1, finished another half-length back in third and returned $3.86 to show with Luan Machado up.
Life of Joy, the Rags to Riches winner and 5-2 favorite, finished fourth and was followed by Letmecounttheways, Vita Mia, Baracca, Coco Connect and Raspberry. Essential Coffee was caught by the Churchill outriders. Explora, The Grumpy Rabbit and Wonzee Weather were scratched.
Bella Ballerina's earnings now total $301,525.
"Early in the race I was 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 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."
By 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, Bella Ballerina is out of the Tapit mare Pretty City Dancer, who won the Spinaway (G1). The bay filly was bred in Kentucky.