By Christina Bossinakis
Godolphin's Bella Ballerina (Street Sense) came from just off the pace to earn TDN Rising Stardom, Presented by Hagyard, in her career opener at Keeneland Sunday afternoon.
Content to settle in right behind the leading draft through an opening quarter in :22.47, the 7-5 choice, who was clocking the pace wide, was given her cue from Tyler Gaffalione turning for home. Unfurling her long legs from there, the homebred drew clear in the late stages to win by a convincing 4 1/4-length margin over fellow firsters Debbie Doll (Liam's Map) and Karma Wins (Tapiture), who was farther back in third.
The winner is a daughter of GI Spinaway winner Pretty City Dancer (Tapit), a half-sister to Grade I winner Lear's Princess (Lear Fan). Bella Ballerina is a half-sister to Champion 3-year-old Filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), the winner of a trio of Grade I races–the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Acorn and GI Test–before retiring with earnings of $2,112,560.
Pretty City Dancer produced a colt by Into Mischief in 2024 and was barren this season. She was bred back to Gun Runner.
5th-Keeneland, $102,155, Msw, 10-5, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:11.36, ft, 4 1/4 lengths.
BELLA BALLERINA, f, 2, 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
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $63,085. O-Godolphin, LLC; B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh.
Click for the Equibase.com chart. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
🌟 A half-sister to Pretty Mischievous, Bella Ballerina puts on a show in R5 at @keeneland to break her maiden at first asking! @tyler_gaff was aboard for trainer @brenpwalsh and @godolphin.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/HtBgRsgUQx
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 5, 2025
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