Walsh encouraged by big weekend
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In a stellar opening weekend at Keeneland in which he won a pair of graded stakes, trainer Brendan Walsh also opened the book on a potential star for the future.
The 2-year-old filly Bella Ballerina, a Godolphin homebred, is a half-sister to Eclipse Award champion Pretty Mischievous, winner of the 2023 Kentucky Oaks for Godolphin and Walsh. Bella Ballerina, with blinkers on for her debut going six furlongs on Sunday, drew clear by 4 1/4 lengths in the stretch, earning a 70 Beyer Speed Figure.
Bella Ballerina, by Street Sense, ran to her strong works at Churchill Downs in recent weeks. Walsh was encouraged by the early effort, particularly at the sprint distance.
“She’d been working good. We thought she was pretty nice,” Walsh said. “Didn’t expect her to do what she did there. That was super impressive. She’ll stretch out, and she’s nice.”
Pretty Mischievous, by Into Mischief, won her debut at 6 1/2 furlongs but excelled at longer distances. She scored four stakes wins beyond a mile, including the Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Acorn, in her championship season.
Walsh saddled three winners Friday at Keeneland, including the Grade 2 Jessamine with Imaginationthelady. Bella Ballerina was one of his two winners Sunday, a day he capped with Gin Gin’s upset in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes for fillies and mares.
“It’s great,” Walsh said of the big weekend. “They’re [all] nice horses. We’re lucky to have the owners that we have that supply us with them, and [the barn team] as well, they’re working hard.”
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