Balletic earned a career-best 69 Beyer Speed Figure for her win on Saturday. A copy of her updated lifetime past performances can be seen above. The 3-year-old filly has remained at Gulfstream Park for the time being and is good order out of the win.
In celebration of the win, the Balletic collection will be on sale until 12:00 a.m. ET.
It was an exciting day for Balletic owners as your 3-year-old filly broke through in career start number 3 in the sixth race at Gulfstream Park. With the late scratch of #1 Accomplished Girl, who was the second-choice as they loaded in the gate, it was Balletic’s race to lose and she did not disappoint.
She broke very well under Irad Ortiz Jr. and sat a perfect trip behind the early pacesetter Millie Jean. Irad kept her clear in the three-path before making his run at the leader in the far turn. When the field straightened up for home, the only one who presented any type of threat was #8 Up for It but Balletic was always confidently handled by Irad to win by a length and a half in the end.
Congratulations to all owners and we will follow up in the coming days with how Balletic is doing out of the race.
Balletic finished second as the 3/2 favorite in today’s opener at Gulfstream Park. Breaking from the rail, your Into Mischief filly broke well but was not quick enough to get out to the front and stalked the pace from the rail. Settling in third off of early fractions of 21.88 and 44.60, Balletic tipped out two wide as they hit the top of the stretch but could not gain on the winner. She battled on gamely but was simply second best to the first-time starter Ivory Moon.
Another game effort today where your filly showed good early speed and some resiliency. With continued progression it hopefully won’t be much longer until she finds herself in the winner’s circle.
Jockey Luis Saez provided some feedback after the race which can be seen above.
Partners,
Good luck as Balletic makes her second career start today in the 1st race at Gulfstream Park. Post time is 12:10 PM EST. You can watch the race here on Gulfstream’s website.
Your newly turned 3-year-old Into Mischief filly adds blinkers, Lasix, and tries turf for the first time and breaks from the rail under Luis Saez as the 7/2 morning line favorite. After her first race where she flashed some speed it’s no secret the strategy here will be to be engaged and up close very early in this five-furlong sprint. To no surprise trainer Todd Pletcher’s dirt stats are better than his turf stats but sports a 22% success rate with 1st time blinkers and 26% with a second time starter.
Good luck!
About the competition (excluding also eligibles):
#2 Tap and Chu- 30/1 first time starter with modest works heading into the career debut. Up against it.
#3 Ivory Moon- also a first-time starter, gets the services of top rider Joel Rosario. Trainer Brian Lynch is 20 percent at the current meet and matches that number with turf sprint runners. One to consider.
#4 Heading West- also hails from the Brian Lynch barn and makes second career start. Respectable first race but looking elsewhere.
#5 Daddyslilbossbaby- looks to just be a starting point for this first timer whose 20/1 on the morning line and will probably appreciate more ground.
#6 Mended We Stand- intriguing runner from the Rusty Arnold barn. Making her 4th career start this filly cuts back to sprinting after going two turns for her first 3 races. However, coming off an almost three month layoff she could need one.
#7 Oolong Hai- Speedy No Nay Never filly looks to be on or near the lead early. Narrowly beat in her first start, this one is a prime contender.
#8 Tapit’s Approval- by Tapit out of a Curlin mare, you wouldn’t expect the sprint distance to be her friend despite the 58.3 second drill last week. Also, based on work tab, this one looks to still be building up stamina.
#9 Calabrian Queen- Mark Casse trainee looks to have a solid foundation under herself and gets the services of leading rider Jose Ortiz. Would expect this one to be well placed and make a run late. Good value at 12/1 on the morning line.
#10 Three Girls- the NY bred invader comes in seeking the first win in career start number four. A filly who flashes early speed but has been unable to carry it to the wire. 1st time Lasix could be a boost.
#11 Chilly Chocolate- 20/1 longshot could be a sneaky sort to use in your exotics. First timer by Triple Crown winner American Pharoah boasts a string of solid drills for trainer John Kimmel who is 17% first out and 25% in turf sprints.
#12 Fedaline- wintering in the South Florida sun, this Ontario bred comes off a six month layoff where she ran on the Tapeta at Woodbine. Trainer Kevin Attard a modest 13% synthetic to turf rate but a highly impressive 38% with horses coming off layoffs of 180 days or more.
Exciting second-place finish today from Balletic on debut, just narrowly missing the victory at Gulfstream Park.
Ridden by Edgard Zayas, your 2-year-old filly broke well and then tracked the pace from third position down the backstretch of the six-furlong race. Around the turn, Balletic was being asked in earnest by Zayas and for a moment it looked like she wasn’t going to respond. Yet she did, and in early stretch zoomed up the rail and then had to shift outward to finish her run, nearly collaring the 25-1 upset winner Ashford Girl.
Trainer Todd Pletcher and Zayas both remarked that the filly ran greenly. Zayas’ interview can be heard above.
In the stretch, Balletic didn’t change to her correct lead, which is not uncommon for an unseasoned horse, particularly a first-time starter. Racing on the wrong lead can be fatiguing, so it was good to see the daughter of Into Mischief giving it her all, right down to the finish.
We had a fantastic and enthusiastic crowd on hand for Balletic’s debut and will look forward to carrying those good spirits forward into her next race. We will check in with the Pletcher team to see how Balletic came out of her race and will report back.
Balletic had her final breeze in preparation for her debut next Friday. The 2-year-old filly breezed a half mile from the gate in 49.00 (1/14) while working in company with Froyo Star ’20, her workmate from two weeks ago.
On that note, she was also entered as planned on next Friday’s card at Gulfstream Park. She drew post 5 in a field of eight horses in a maiden special weight which was carded as race 3. Edgard Zayas has received the call for riding duties. Post time is 1:23 p.m. ET.
For those planning on attending, we will be offering a paddock lottery. Click here to enter.
Balletic breezed five furlongs in 1:01.55 yesterday morning at Palm Beach Downs. The 2-year-old filly breezed in company with an unraced daughter of Uncle Mo, Soviet Excess. The plan is for the 2-year-old filly to have one additional breeze next Friday, with our target race being Nov. 18th.
As Balletic continues final preparations for her career debut for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, she will enter the starting gate for a 14-time Breeders’ Cup-winning trainer. Todd added to his impressive BC trophy haul this year when he captured 2 races at the World Championships — Forte in the Juvenile and Malathaat in the Distaff. The trainer’s win in the Distaff is his third in that race and he has now won the Juvenile for a third time as well. Well done, Todd!
Balletic breezed five furlongs this morning on the inside of stablemate Froyo Star ‘20 ($500k yearling purchase). The Pletcher team pushed your 2-year-old filly’s work back a few days in order to put her on a Friday schedule leading up to her targeted debut on Nov. 18th at Gulfstream Park. The duo was credited with a final time of 1:02 by the Pletcher team.
Balletic was second-best this morning, visually tiring late in the work and on the gallop out, but this was her most demanding work to date. Pending all things continue well, the target remains the maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park next month.
Balletic breezed her first five furlongs on Friday, September 30th at Palm Beach Downs in company with Bisset. Stopping the clock in 1:02.50, Todd Pletcher reported that Balletic stayed in company well with her workmate who already has two starts under her belt. Todd said that we are still a bit aways from narrowing down a first race for Balletic as she will need gate schooling and the trainer looks forward to accomplishing that with the arrival of his gate crew from Saratoga in the near future.
We were happy to receive the news from Todd Pletcher that Balletic and the rest of his horses stabled at Palm Beach Downs are safe after stormy weather associated with Hurricane Ian rolled through Delray Beach, FL last night. Training will resume tomorrow morning at the South Florida training center.