Bella Ballerina

The remarkable tribute paid to their mutual granddam by the first two in the Breeders' Cup Classic felt especially apt given that Fawn Leap Farm had lost Darling My Darling (Deputy Minister), at a venerable 28, since the same horses finished first and third the previous year. Debby and John Oxley know that these things take time. In 2014 they had sold one of her daughters, by Congrats, for $8,000 as a yearling. At that stage, Darling My Darling was proving a dud in her second career: her first foal...

Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina (Street Sense), a half-sister to champion and GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) whose lone previous trip to the post resulted in a 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard-worthy debut sprinting over six furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 5, successfully stretched out to two turns Saturday afternoon in the GII Golden Rod Stakes, hitting the front at midstretch before holding off a late lunge from fellow 'Rising Star' Atropa (Into Mischief). The winner earns 10 points on the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Oaks. Bet...

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)...

5th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 3:08 p.m. ET. Godolphin homebred BELLA BALLERINA (Street Sense) is set for her unveiling under the care of trainer Brendan Walsh, who also conditioned her half-sister, champion 3-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief). Both are out of GI Spinaway Stakes heroine Pretty City Dancer (Tapit), a $3.5-million buy for Stoud Coleman Bloodstock during the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Fall Mixed sale. This dam is herself a half-sister to GISW & MGISP Lear's Princess (Lear Fan). TJCIS PPS 4th-KEE, $110K, Msw, 2yo, 1mT, 2:36 p.m. ET. Lemon's...