Bal a Bali comes to America for Breeders' Cup Turf
DEL MAR, Calif. – Bal a Bali, the winner of four Group 1 races in Brazil this year, including the Rio Triple Crown, will arrive Tuesday at trainer Richard Mandella’s stable to be trained for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.
A 4-year-old colt by Put It Back, Bal a Bali has won 10 of 11 starts, including his last seven starts since September. He won the Grande Premio Brasil on June 8, a race that was part of the B.C. Win and You’re In program for the B.C. Turf.
Earlier this year, Bal a Bali won the Estado do Rio de Janeiro over a mile, the Gran Premio Machado over 1 1/4 miles, and the Grande Premio Cruzeiro do Sol over 1 1/2 miles to sweep the Rio Triple Crown for trainer Dulcino Guignoni and owner Stud Alvarenga.
Mandella is hopeful that Bal a Bali will need minimal time to acclimate to Southern California.
“We’ve got the Breeders’ Cup in mind,” Mandella said. “The trainer [Guignoni] thinks we’ll be able to move on.”