Bal a Bali (BRZ)
September 22, 2010 – Living
Put It Back (USA) x In My Side (BRZ), by Clackson (BRZ)
Family 3
September 22, 2010 – Living
Put It Back (USA) x In My Side (BRZ), by Clackson (BRZ)
Family 3
The 12th horse to win the Brazilian Triple Crown winner and the best horse of his generation in Brazil, Bal a Bali developed a life-threatening case of laminitis following his importation to the United States. He not only survived but returned to Grade 1-winning form at age 7. One of the few remaining stallions descending in direct male line from the great Man o’ War, he has not sired anything approaching his own class thus far.
Race record
26 starts, 15 wins, 1 second, 4 thirds, US$1,258,268
2013:
2014:
2015:
2016:
2017:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2014, 10 pounds below overall highweight Just a Way (who also topped the Mile category) but best for any South American-based racehorse that year.
Rated at 115 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015, 19 pounds below overall highweight American Pharoah (who also topped the Mile category with a 131-pound rating in that category) and 10 pound below the top-rated turf miler, Able Friend.
Rated at 115 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2017, 19 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate and 17 pounds below the top-rated turf miler, Winx.
As an individual
A plain, powerfully made, short-coupled dark bay or brown horse, Bal a Bali has a deep shoulder, a strong hip, and clean legs. He possessed a powerful closing kick when at his best.
As a stallion
Bal a Bali stands in Kentucky at Calumet Farm.
Connections
Bal a Bali was bred by Haras Santa Maria de Araras. He was owned by José Galliez Novis Alvaro and was trained by Dulcino Guignoni. Following his victory in the Grande Prêmio Brasil, he was sold for export to North America for US$1.5 million. In the United States, he was owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm and was trained by Richard Mandella. Calumet Farm purchased the horse in 2017 as a stallion prospect, but Mandella persuaded them to keep Bal a Bali in training, and the horse rewarded Mandella’s faith in him with two Grade 1 wins. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2018 at Calumet Farm.
Pedigree notes
Bal a Bali is inbred 4x4 to the important broodmare Gonfalon. He is a half brother to Quebra-de-Braco (by Wild Event), dam of 2022 Grande Prêmio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Online (by Agnes Gold), and to Valleyview (by Wild Event), dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Orfeu Negro (by Agnes Gold) and Grande Prêmio General Couto de Magalhaes (BRZ-G3) winner Quiron (by Public Purse). In addition, Bal a Bali is a half brother to Calling You (by Wild Event), dam of Premio Franciszco J. Beasley (ARG-G2) winner Lucky You (by Put It Back), and to Don’t Be (by Wild Event), dam of Grande Premio Presidente Augusto de Souza Queiroz (BRZ-G3) winner Alley-Oop (by Tiger Heart). Finally, he is a half brother to Angel Eyes (by Northern Afleet), dam of 2023 Prêmio Hipódromo de Gávea (BRZ-G3) winner Love Touch (by Put It Back).
In My Side, the dam of Bal a Bali, won the 2000 Grande Prêmio Roger Guedon (BRZ-G3). Sired by multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner and 1991/1992 Brazilian champion sire Clackson, she is out of the unraced Ogygian mare By My Side. The next dam in Bal a Bali’s tail-female line, Blint (by Nijinsky II), is a half sister to Silver Service (by Silver Deputy), dam of stakes winner Summer Service (by Siberian Summer). Blint is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Table Hands (by Table Run x Hold Hands, by Anyoldtime), whose four stakes-winning full and half siblings include Grade 2 winner Any Time Girl (by Aurelius II). Table Hands is also a half sister to Anytime Ms. (by Aurelius II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Brocco (by Kris S.).
Fun facts
Last updated: May 28, 2023
Race record
26 starts, 15 wins, 1 second, 4 thirds, US$1,258,268
2013:
- Won Grande Prêmio Júlio Capua (BRZ-G3, 1600mT, Gávea)
- Won Grande Prêmio Mario de Azevedo Ribeiro (BRZ-G3, 1400mT, Gávea)
- Won Prêmio José Calmon (BRZ-L, 1300mT, Gávea)
- Won Prêmio Ernani de Freitas (BRZ-L, 1600mT, Gávea)
- 3rd Grande Prêmio Conde de Herzberg (BRZ-G2, 1500mT, Gávea)
2014:
- Won Grande Prêmio Brasil (BRZ-G1, 2400mT, Gávea)
- Won Grande Prêmio Cruizeiro do Sul (Brazilian Derby) (BRZ-G1, 2400mT, Gávea)
- Won Grande Prêmio Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brazilian Two Thousand Guineas) (BRZ-G1, 1600mT, Gávea)
- Won Grande Prêmio Francisco Eduadro de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1, 2000mT, Gávea)
- Won Grande Prêmio Doutor Frontin (BRZ-G2, 2400mT, Gávea)
2015:
- Won American Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Seabiscuit Handicap (USA-G2, 8.5FT, Del Mar)
2016:
- 3rd Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Gabriel Stakes (USA-G2, 9FT, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Francisco Mile Stakes (USA-G3, 8FT, Golden Gate)
2017:
- Won Shoemaker Mile Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
- Won Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (USA-G1, 8FT, Santa Anita)
Honors
- Mossoró Trophy, Brazilian Horse of the Year (2013/2014)
- Mossoró Trophy, Brazilian champion 3-year-old male (2013/2014)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2014, 10 pounds below overall highweight Just a Way (who also topped the Mile category) but best for any South American-based racehorse that year.
Rated at 115 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2015, 19 pounds below overall highweight American Pharoah (who also topped the Mile category with a 131-pound rating in that category) and 10 pound below the top-rated turf miler, Able Friend.
Rated at 115 pounds in the Mile category on the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2017, 19 pounds below overall highweight Arrogate and 17 pounds below the top-rated turf miler, Winx.
As an individual
A plain, powerfully made, short-coupled dark bay or brown horse, Bal a Bali has a deep shoulder, a strong hip, and clean legs. He possessed a powerful closing kick when at his best.
As a stallion
Bal a Bali stands in Kentucky at Calumet Farm.
Connections
Bal a Bali was bred by Haras Santa Maria de Araras. He was owned by José Galliez Novis Alvaro and was trained by Dulcino Guignoni. Following his victory in the Grande Prêmio Brasil, he was sold for export to North America for US$1.5 million. In the United States, he was owned by Rick Porter’s Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm and was trained by Richard Mandella. Calumet Farm purchased the horse in 2017 as a stallion prospect, but Mandella persuaded them to keep Bal a Bali in training, and the horse rewarded Mandella’s faith in him with two Grade 1 wins. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2018 at Calumet Farm.
Pedigree notes
Bal a Bali is inbred 4x4 to the important broodmare Gonfalon. He is a half brother to Quebra-de-Braco (by Wild Event), dam of 2022 Grande Prêmio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (BRZ-G1) winner Online (by Agnes Gold), and to Valleyview (by Wild Event), dam of multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner Orfeu Negro (by Agnes Gold) and Grande Prêmio General Couto de Magalhaes (BRZ-G3) winner Quiron (by Public Purse). In addition, Bal a Bali is a half brother to Calling You (by Wild Event), dam of Premio Franciszco J. Beasley (ARG-G2) winner Lucky You (by Put It Back), and to Don’t Be (by Wild Event), dam of Grande Premio Presidente Augusto de Souza Queiroz (BRZ-G3) winner Alley-Oop (by Tiger Heart). Finally, he is a half brother to Angel Eyes (by Northern Afleet), dam of 2023 Prêmio Hipódromo de Gávea (BRZ-G3) winner Love Touch (by Put It Back).
In My Side, the dam of Bal a Bali, won the 2000 Grande Prêmio Roger Guedon (BRZ-G3). Sired by multiple Brazilian Group 1 winner and 1991/1992 Brazilian champion sire Clackson, she is out of the unraced Ogygian mare By My Side. The next dam in Bal a Bali’s tail-female line, Blint (by Nijinsky II), is a half sister to Silver Service (by Silver Deputy), dam of stakes winner Summer Service (by Siberian Summer). Blint is out of multiple Grade 2 winner Table Hands (by Table Run x Hold Hands, by Anyoldtime), whose four stakes-winning full and half siblings include Grade 2 winner Any Time Girl (by Aurelius II). Table Hands is also a half sister to Anytime Ms. (by Aurelius II), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Brocco (by Kris S.).
Fun facts
- Bal a Bali was one of two Grade or Group 1-winning horses to make Grade 1-winning comebacks in 2017 after suffering attacks of severe laminitis. The other was Lady Eli, who became the year’s American champion turf female.
Last updated: May 28, 2023