Ball Dancing Skips Away in Jenny Wiley Stretch

Ball Dancing earned her first Grade 1 win in the Jenny Wiley Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course.(Keeneland photo)
Ball Dancing outfinished Filimbi and Hard Not to Like for a visually impressive 2 1/2-length victory in the $300,000 Jenny Wiley Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course.
The trio was just about on even terms as the top of the stretch with Ball Dancing in between defending Jenny Wiley winner Hard Not to Like on her inside and Filimbi rallying boldly on her outside. But when jockey Javier Castellano asked Ball Dancing to accelerate, she shifted gears and steadily put away the competition.
“[Ball Dancing] 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.”
Trained by Chad Brown for William S. Farish and F. Steve Mooney, Ball Dancing began her career in France, where she won two of five starts and finished second in a Group 3 race.
In Ball Dancing’s U.S. debut in September 2014 at Belmont Park, she won the Grade 2 Sands Point Stakes before a runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes at Keeneland to close her 3-year-old season.
Ball Dancing made her 4-year-old bow on March 7 at Tampa Bay Downs and finished second by 1 ½ lengths to highly regarded Stephanie’s Kitten in the Hillsborough Stakes before regaining her winning stride in the Jenny Wiley.
“She’s a wonderful horse to train, steadily improved. What a big win for [co-owners] Mr. [Will] Farish and Mr. [Steve] Mooney. They’re both here, and we’re thrilled,” said Brown, who trained 2014 champion turf female Dayatthespa. “We’ve been so lucky to have a lineup of [talented turf fillies]. She’s definitely in their category.”
The Exchange Rate filly earned her first career Grade 1 win in the Jenny Wiley and increased her career earnings to $706,282 with the $180,000 winner’s share.
Ball Dancing completed 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.08 on turf rated as yielding to improve to four wins and three seconds in nine career starts.
Filimbi edged Hard Not to Like by neck for second.
 For an Equibase chart, click here.
BALL DANCING IMPRESSES IN JENNY WILEY

Keeneland photo