Saratoga: Dance to Bristol ready for Ballerina

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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Dance to Bristol, winner of six consecutive races including the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Stakes at Saratoga on July 29, will arrive here Sunday for her first Grade 1 opportunity in next Friday's $500,000 Ballerina Stakes.

On Friday, Dance to Bristol worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds at the former Bowie Racecourse in Maryland.

"She worked great," trainer Ollie Figgins III said. "I had her out in 1:12 and change. Did it well."

Figgins said he shipped Dance to Bristol to Saratoga five days out from the Honorable Miss and is following a similar protocol by shipping here on Sunday. As part of her current six-race winning streak, Dance to Bristol has twice won at the Ballerina distance of seven furlongs, taking the Grade 3 Bed o' Roses at Belmont in June and the Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town in April. The Ballerina, a Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, will be Dance to Bristol's first attempt in a Grade 1.

"I really feel like the distance of the Ballerina suits her a little better," Figgins said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Others expected for the Ballerina include Book Review, Classic Point, Fantasy of Flight, Judy the Beauty, Livi Makenzie, Moment in Dixie, Munnings Sister, Sure Route, and Villanesca.