In her first try at 1 1/4 miles on turf and ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, trainer Simon Callaghan's Ballet Dancing stalked longshot Annaghlasa to the quarter pole, then took control from there before scoring a dominant 3½-length tally in Sunday's $100,000 Santa Ana (G3) at Santa Anita
Ballet Dancing finished the distance in 2:01.25 on a turf course rated as good.
Breaking alertly from the far outside, Ballet Dancing was quickly into stride as Annaghlasa and Ramon Vazquez set about carving out realistic early fractions of :24.01, :47.22 and 1:12.07 for six furlongs. (The one-mile fraction, set by the winner, was 1:36.70).
With 3-2 favorite Australia Mia in deep water midway around the far turn, there were no “dangers” among the remaining six older fillies and mares, and Prat and Ballet Dancing were able to put the Santa Ana away at the top of the lane.
“I watched some videos of her and talked to Simon,” said Prat, who rung up his second stakes win of the weekend and his eighth overall at the Classic Meet. “She (broke) well, got ourselves in the race and I was traveling really well all the way around. She responded really well when I asked her.”
When asked about the softer turf today, Prat responded “The turf has a little cut to it, but I thought it was really good.”
A first condition allowance winner going 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita two starts back on Dec. 26, Ballet Dancing was most recently fourth as the favorite in a second condition allowance at the same distance Feb. 3, Ballet Dancing was off at 9-2 Sunday and paid $11.40 for the win.
“This was certainly the distance we've been waiting for,” said Callaghan. “…I think now as an older mare, she's just gonna flourish and I think these longer distances, a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half, they are going to be right in her wheelhouse.
“That's very much what the pedigree suggests and her (physical) frame. I think we should have a fun older year with her.”
A 4-year-old filly by Medaglia d'Oro out of the Unbridled's Song mare Fully Living, Ballet Dancing was purchased from co-breeder Ashview Farm for $800,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale. M. V. Magnier signed the ticket. She is owned by Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Third in the Honeymoon Stakes (G3) versus 3-year-old fillies in her third career start, Ballet Dancing notched her first stakes win Sunday and improved her overall mark to 3-1-2 from nine career starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $191,060.
Sixth, about 4 ½ lengths off the lead at the half-mile pole, Queen Ofthe Temple rallied well for the place while not threatening the winner. She finished a head better than third-place finisher Duvet Day.
An upset winner of the 1 1/2-mile Astra Stakes on turf at Santa Anita Jan. 21, Duvet Day lacked a similar closing kick at the Santa Ana distance and finished a nose better than fellow Irish-bred Buzz of New York.
The 3-2 favorite with Frankie Dettori, Australia Mia finished a distant last.
The post ‘This Was Certainly The Distance We’ve Been Waiting For’: Ballet Dancing Stretches Out, Scores Comfortable Santa Ana Victory appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
