HAPPY TICKET (Anet) has traveled north from the bayou for
Sunday’s $250,000 Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga. The Louisiana-bred filly enters
the seven-furlong Ballerina off the first and only loss of her 10-race career,
having finished a troubled second in the July 10 Princess Rooney H. (G2) at Calder. Prior to
that, she won six stakes in Louisiana and the seven-furlong Chicago Breeders’
Cup H. (G3) at Arlington Park.
“She’s definitely the real deal,” trainer Andrew Leggio Jr. said. “I know
she’s got everyone back home pulling for her. They want to see her take home a
Grade 1 at Saratoga.”
Happy Ticket broke slowly, rushed into contention, and was steadied on the
backstretch before finishing second to Madcap Escapade (Hennessy) in the
Princess Rooney. She arrived at the Spa earlier this week and will face
Honorable Miss H. (G2) winner FOREST MUSIC (Unbridled’s Song), now trained by
Steve Asmussen, and five others in the Ballerina.
VISION OF BEAUTY (Danzig) under 115 pounds, including jockey Edgar Prado,
will lead the post parade. They will be followed by Happy Ticket, John
Velazquez, 117; MOLTO VITA (Carson City), Gary Stevens, 117; BANK AUDIT (Wild
Rush), Ramon Dominguez, 122; PLEASANT HOME (Seeking the Gold), Cornelio
Velasquez, 117; MY TRUSTY CAT (Tale of the Cat), Javier Castellano, 122; and
Forest Music, Jerry Bailey, 119.