Kentucky Oaks 2026: Bella Ballerina gets educational work behind horses
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – In her final preparations leading up to the May 1 Kentucky Oaks, relaxation has been a focus for Bella Ballerina. After another educational workout for the filly on Saturday morning at Keeneland, in which she worked behind horses by design, trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Tyler Gaffalione also appeared relaxed, and pleased with their contender.
"Everything went according to plan," Gaffalione said.
Bella Ballerina has been on the engine in her starts this year. In the Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks on March 21, she pulled on Gaffalione while contesting the pace, and was ultimately overhauled in the stretch to finish second to Life of Joy. In her two works since coming to Keeneland - a half-mile last Saturday, and five furlongs this morning - Walsh has put Bella Ballerina and Gaffalione behind stablemates.
"We felt she was doing a little bit much when she gets too much daylight," Walsh said. "I just want her to get a little cover and get her to relax for a few works, and not have it always in her head 'I need to go, I need to go.' She's galloping around there in behind them, and anytime she wants, she could go right by them. It's a means to an end."
Working at 9 a.m. after the second morning renovation break, and on a track rated fast after overnight drizzle, Bella Ballerina and Gaffalione came down the stretch about a length behind two stablemates who worked head to head. The filly took plenty of dirt in her face as she completed her five furlongs in 1:01.80, according to Keeneland clockers. The time wasn't as important as how she did it.
"She's relaxing beautifully, she's listening to all my cues," Gaffalione said. "She's really turned the page. I've seen a lot of maturity the last few weeks with her."
Bella Ballerina, a Godolphin homebred who is a half-sister to 2023 Oaks winner Pretty Mischievous, will have her penultimate work for the Oaks next weekend at Keeneland, then her final breeze in advance of the race at Churchill Downs. Next week, she will again work in company, but might stoke her competitive fires.
"Next week, we might let her join them or go by them," Walsh said. "But she's had two nice works now doing this, and I think it's really helped her. It's nice just to get her to switch off. She's fit and she's ready to go. It's just a question now of getting her mind right, and getting everything so that she knows what's required."
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