By Stefanie Grimm
Godolphin knows a thing or two about prepping a filly for the Kentucky Oaks through the Fair Grounds meet. Just last year, the then-undefeated Good Cheer (Medaglia d'Oro) rolled through the Rachel Alexandra and the Fair Grounds Oaks en route to the lilies on the first Friday in May. And in 2023, 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) took the same route, capturing the Rachel Alexandra as well and settling for second in the Fair Grounds Oaks on her way to victory in Kentucky.
Flash forward to 2026 and Godolphin seems poised for a three-peat as fellow 'Rising Star' Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), the 3-year-old half-sister to Pretty Mischievous, stamped her ticket to Kentucky with a win in Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes, the first 50-point race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks.
Impressive enough in her Keeneland unveiling to earn 'Rising Star' honors Oct. 5, Bella Ballerina then held on late to take down the GII Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill Downs in her season finale Nov. 29. No small feat to make her 3-year-old bow Saturday, the 4-5 favorite came away with good speed from the center of the gate and was intent on leading even as Luv Your Neighbor (Constitution), previously ranked ahead of her on the Oaks leaderboard with 15 of her owns points, put the pressure on from second.
Under a tight hold from jockey Tyler Gaffalione (who also piloted her half-sister to that Oaks win in 2023) up the backstretch, Bella Ballerina clocked fractions of :23.40 and 46.98 as Luv Your Neighbor stayed right off her flank in second. As the top two began to sprint for home and separate from the rest of the field off the far turn, it was the daughter of Constitution who looked to spring the upset, sticking a head in front inside the final furlong. But Bella Ballerina wasn't done even while pinned against the rail, coming right back in the last strides to reassume command just before the wire with Just Singing (Justify) closing in from the back to be third.
“Hats off to her – she fought hard when she could've got beat,” said winning trainer Brendan Walsh. “I think she'll improve a lot from her run today. She probably needed today's race I was still able to get the job done.”
“She relaxed well for me going into the far turn and had to battle down the stretch to get it done,” Gaffalione added. “I thought she was getting a little tired on me but the more I asked of her the more she dug in.”
Now with 60 points, Bella Ballerina leads the Road to the Kentucky Oaks over Explora (Blame) with 45 and Luv Your Neighbor who moved into third with 40 total points. Just Singing also moved up with 12th with 18 total points. Also of note, Bella Ballerina is one of 11 fillies nominated to this year's Triple Crown series.
Pedigree Note:
When your first dam is a Grade I-winning half-sister to another Grade I winner and your half-sister is a Kentucky Oaks winner, your pedigree needs little introduction. Bella Ballerina, one of 108 stakes winners for Street Sense, is one of four winners of four to race for Spinaway victress Pretty City Dancer. Stroud Coleman Bloodstock went to $3.5-million at Fasig-Tipton's November Sale in 2018 to acquire the mare who gave Godolphin an Eclipse-winning 3-year-old filly in Pretty Mischievous as her second foal.
The family also includes GI Gazelle Stakes winner Lear's Princess (Lear Fan), who Shadwell Farm bought for $2.7-million from Fasig-Tipton in 2008.
Pretty City Dancer was served by leading sire Into Mischief for both 2024 and 2025, resulting in just a now 2-year-old colt as she was barren to him last year. She visited Three Chimneys sire Gun Runner for 2026.
She's a tough one! 🌟 'TDN Rising Star' BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense) extends her perfect record to 3-for-3 as she battles to victory in the GII Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra Stakes at @fairgroundsnola.
The @brenpwalsh trainee earns 50 #KyOaks points. pic.twitter.com/IjoHde2lBr
— TDN (@theTDN) February 14, 2026
Saturday, Fair Grounds
FASIG-TIPTON RACHEL ALEXANDRA S.-GII, $289,000, Fair Grounds, 2-14, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.38, ft.
1–BELLA BALLERINA, 122, f, 3, by Street Sense
1st Dam: Pretty City Dancer (GISW, $286,344), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Pretty City, by Carson City
3rd Dam: Pretty Special, by Riverman
'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard'. O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $481,525. *1/2 to Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), Ch. 3-year-old Filly, MGISW, $2,112,560. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Luv Your Neighbor, 122, f, 3, Constitution–Disobedient, by Into Mischief. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($350,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Lael Stables; B-Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. & 552727 Ontario LTD. (ON); T-Michael Stidham. $60,000.
3–Just Singing, 122, f, 3, Justify–Talkin and Singing, by Songandaprayer. ($300,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP). O-Whisper Hill Farm LLC; B-Dr. Richard Holder & Justify Syndicate (KY); T-J. Kent Sweezey. $30,000.
Margins: HF, 2HF, 6HF. Odds: 0.80, 7.60, 3.30.
Also Ran: Powered by Family, Classic Glide, Majestical. Scratched: Agrippina, Dancin in Old Town.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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