Malibu Moon’s Come Dancing gets Grade 1 in $500,000 Ballerina S.
August 25, 2019
Come Dancing dominates in the Grade 1 Ballerina S. – Chelsea Durand photo
Come Dancing’s win in Saturday’s $500,000 Ballerina S. (G1) at Saratoga marked the third graded stakes win of the year for the 5-year-old Malibu Moon mare, who also became her sire’s 16th Grade 1 winner in his illustrious stallion career.
Facing just four foes in the seven-furlong race, Come Dancing was away from the gate last but recovered well and was less than a length from the lead entering the turn. Three-wide around the bend, she made the lead at the top of the stretch and powered away from the field to win by an emphatic 3 ½-lengths in a swift 1:21.48 on a fast track.
“On paper, she looked like the horse to be in the lead, but in my heart I felt she didn’t have to be on the lead today,” said winning rider Javier Castellano. “She didn’t break sharp out of the gate. I took my time to move up and control the race. She’s a wonderful filly and she’s so kind. You can do whatever you want with her. In the stretch, she proved she was much the best the way she did it.”
Come Dancing is owned by her breeder Blue Devil Racing Stable LLC. With victories in the Ruffian S. (G2) and Distaff H. (G3) already on her resume, Come Dancing is now 7-2-0 in 12 starts and has earned $881,700. Saturday’s win also earned her an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) as part of the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” program.