Ball Dancing had never raced over as short a trip as the 1 1/16 miles of the
Subsequently acquired by her new connections and repatriated, Ball Dancing
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That formline propelled her into Jenny Wiley favoritism, and the slight
cutback in distance proved no concern, especially on a turf course that was
still yielding from the recent rain. Overeager when tight between foes early,
Ball Dancing eased back into third, a couple of lengths set by Eden Prairie
(Mizzen Mast) through splits of :23 4/5, :48 2/5 and 1:13 1/5. Hard Not to Like
tracked throughout in second and had the longtime leader in her sights turning
into the stretch.
But Ball Dancing and Filimbi were both swinging into contention rounding the
far turn, with the former finding the superior turn of foot. Ball Dancing opened
up by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:43 and returned $5.40.
“(She) was very impressive,” Castellano said. “I’ve been watching replays of
her last couple of races. She’s kind of European (style) horse: You need to
cover up a little bit to save something for the end. It really worked out
beautiful here. I had a perfect trip today. It was amazing. Great filly.”
Filimbi outdueled Hard Not to Like by a neck for second. Personal Diary (City
Zip) and Eden Prairie concluded the order under the wire, and Starstruck
(Galileo) was eased. Samiam (Dynaformer) and Emotional Kitten (Kitten’s Joy)
were scratched.
“I had a good trip,” Filimbi’s rider Joel Rosario said. “I made a little move
and she responded. She was always there for me. The winner was tough to beat. I
was trying to follow (Ball Dancing); I was always behind her. I tried to make a
little move before she did, but she was the best today.”
Brown noticed that gambit.
“I could tell (jockey) Javier (Castellano) really didn’t want to move at that
point but luckily (with) his great instincts he felt them coming and put (Filimbi)
wider than us. He gave the filly a great trip. She’s a wonderful horse to train,
steadily improved. What a big win for (co-owners) Mr. Farish and Mr. Mooney.
They’re both here, and we’re thrilled.”
Might Ball Dancing get a rematch with Stephanie’s Kitten?
“Maybe down the road. They’re both top class, very even,” Brown said. “Last
time ‘Stephanie’ had a little better trip than this filly, and this filly came
out of the race so better for it — much fitter, sharper. We gave her a chance
to get her Grade 1 today and she did it for us. As long as she’s healthy, I have
some big races planned for her this year.”
Ball Dancing’s resume now reads 9-4-3-0, $706,282. Bred by Kirk Wycoff and
Deby Wycoff in the Bluegrass State, she sold for $55,000 as a short yearling at
Keeneland January. She later toured the ring at Tattersalls October, but RNA’d
for $134,434.
Out of the unraced Silver Hawk mare Ball Gown, Ball Dancing is a half-sister
to French stakes scorer Putyball (Silver Deputy), Group 3-placed Palomar
(Chester House) and stakes-placed Hayhaat (Irish River). With her third dam
being Irish champion and 1966 English One Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) heroine
*Glad Rags II (High Hat), she descends from the same family as 2012 Belmont S.
(G1) star Union Rags (Dixie Union).
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