Bal a Bali (Brz) (Put It Back–In My Side {Brz}, by Clackson {Brz}), who overcame a serious fight with laminitis following his import from Brazil to record a pair of Grade I wins in this country, has been ruled out of the GI Breeders' Cup Mile and has been retired to stud. He will begin his stallion career in 2018 at Calumet Farm.
The horse of the year and champion 3-year-old colt in Brazil when sweeping that country's Triple Crown in 2014, Bal a Bali was ultimately acquired by Fox Hill Farm and Siena Farm to continue his career in this country, but contracted a severe case of laminitis in both front feet while in quarantine. Able to overcome the frequently deadly condition (click for a story by T. D. Thornton), he was sent to trainer Richard Mandella in California and promptly won the GIII American S. in his U.S. debut in May 2015. Third in the GI F. E. Kilroe Mile S. in 2016, he resumed from an 8 1/2-month hiatus to annex that event this past March in his first start in the Calumet silks and added a second top-level success in this country in the GI Shoemaker Mile S. at Santa Anita June 3. Bal a Bali was pre-entered for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile, but connections instead decided to call it a career.
“We've been trying to get him back to top form, which he needs to be to compete against these horses, and I just don't feel that he's there,” Mandella said. “I didn't feel it would be right to run him when he's not 100%. He's fine [physically] but we just weren't able to get him to where he needs to be and we feel this is the right thing to do.”
Added Calumet Director of Stallion Sales Jak Knelman, “Bal A Bali has as much heart as you could ask for from a stallion prospect. To be Such a dominant 2-year-old and 3-year-old and then to overcome laminitis and return to be a multiple G1 winner in the USA really shows how much grit and determination he has as a racehorse. We are going to support Bal A Bali heavily with Calumet's broodmare band. As he won from five furlongs up to 12 furlongs, with his preferred distance at a mile, he has the ability to sire a speedy 2-year-old while giving his progeny every chance to win at the classic distance. Hailing from the Relaunch and In Reality line we see his potential as a dual dirt/turf stallion from his race record and his handily bullet works of :46 and change and :58 flat that give credence to his dirt potential.”
Bal a Bali retires with 15 wins from 26 career starts and earnings of $1,258,268.
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