Hope Road Most Impressive in Ballerina Stakes

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree was the theme of the Aug. 23 Ballerina Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Cicero Farms' homebred Hope Road followed in the footsteps of her dam, Marley's Freedom, the 2018 Ballerina winner, and prevailed by two lengths for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Cicero, the stable of Barbara Perry and her husband, Ron, also campaigned Marley's Freedom. Hope Road was cantankerous behind the starting gate of the $500,000 Ballerina. Under Jose Ortiz, who was riding the 4-year-old filly for the first time, she needed some encouragement from the gate crew to get into the starting gate, but once the doors opened, she exited cleanly and showed early speed to track the pacesetting Scylla through fractions of :22.31 and :44.56 in the seven-furlong race. Hope Road, the 2-1 favorite in the seven-horse field, came to the outside of that rival in the stretch and put the second choice away in the final sixteenth with flair. Barbara Perry said when she saw Hope Road coming like a freight train, she thought, "Hold on, baby, come get it. I was very nervous." The owner also said when she witnessed Hope Road acting out behind the gate—she threw in some really good kicks while being asked to load—she had visions of the filly's sire, Quality Road, throwing a fit prior to the start of the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). He was subsequently scratched. "I would like to say that (Hope Road) is a lot like Marley, but she isn't," Barbara Perry said. "I was worried we were going to be scratched at the gate. She shows a lot of Quality Road. I was seriously happy that she didn't sit down like Quality Road did at the Breeders' Cup that year he had to run against Zenyatta, and he said, 'Oh no, I'm not doing that.'" Hope Road completed the distance in 1:21.93 and returned $6.10. Scylla finished four lengths in front of third-place finisher Majestic Oops, who was followed by Brightwork, Halina's Forte, and Claret Beret. My Mane Squeeze was eased in the final furlong and was walked off the track. Hope Road gave Baffert his third win in the Ballerina following victories with Marley's Freedom seven years ago and Gamine in 2021. "There's nothing better to me in racing than to win a grade 1 at Saratoga—that is huge, especially on Travers day. That is really huge in this business. I just wish I could have been there to enjoy it with them. I'm so proud of my crew there," Baffert said from California. "I'm so proud of that mare. She deserved a grade 1. Jose (Ortiz) rode her perfectly. He had her in a nice spot turning for home. I was hoping she was fit enough to go because training at Del Mar and training there is a little bit different, it's more taxing at Saratoga, but she ran her race." The win was Hope Road's first in a grade 1 and her fifth victory from 12 career starts. She elevated her earnings to $866,620. The Ballerina is a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In event for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Del Mar. Cicero's 20 broodmares reside at Tom VanMeter's Pretty Run Farm near Winchester, Ky. Marley's Freedom, an 11-year-old daughter of Blame bought by the Perrys through agent Davant Latham for $35,000 as a yearling, is currently in foal with a filly by Not This Time after giving birth to a Violence colt this year. She also has a yearling colt by Uncle Mo consigned as Hip 34 to this year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. "I'm sure Bob (Baffert) will have a lot to say whether that horse goes through the ring or not," Barbara said with a chuckle. Sire Quality Road stood for a fee of $150,000 this year at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky.