R Disaster tested after stubbing toe in Ballerina

R Disaster ran the worst race of her career four weeks ago in the Grade 1 Ballerina. Handicappers will have to determine whether that was the beginning of the end or just a blip on the radar for the Grade 1-winning 5-year-old mare when she runs in Thursday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom Stakes.

Prior to the Ballerina, R Disaster had run first or second in 15 of 16 starts, including a victory in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs in May and the Gallant Bloom last September at Aqueduct.

She had a physical issue that forced her to miss the Honorable Miss in July, which would have been her prep for the Ballerina. In the Ballerina, she chased a hot early pace before backing up, finishing 15 1/2 lengths behind Ways and Means.

“It was never going to be ideal preparation after we missed the Honorable Miss,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “Definitely not prepared well enough off the layoff. She chased, she made a brief run, it took a toll on her. Tyler [Gaffalione] wrapped up on her and took care of her.”

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R Disaster has had uninterrupted training since the Ballerina, including a three-furlong blowout in 35.80 seconds on Sept. 22 in Saratoga. More to her liking, the Gallant Bloom doesn’t appear to have much other early speed in the field. R Disaster will break from post 5, the same draw she had when the race was scheduled for Saturday.

“If she breaks cleanly, I think she’s the controlling pace of the race,” Joseph said.

Munnings Express, who now breaks from post 3 after drawing the rail, also has some speed if jockey Manny Franco elects to use it.

Joseph also runs Paradise City, who finished fifth, 11 3/4 lengths behind Ways and Means, in the Ballerina, one race after winning the Saylorville at Prairie Meadows.

“She ran decent in the Ballerina. She made a run and flattened out,” Joseph said. “She needs to be covered up as long as possible. She runs her best races like that.”

Beauty Reigns took advantage of a super-hot pace to win a July 23 allowance race at Saratoga. She beat Senza Parole and Munnings Express, both of whom came back to win their next starts. All three fillies are in the Gallant Bloom.

Queen Jubilee is 2 for 2 this year, her wins coming at Fair Grounds in January and Colonial Downs in August.

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