On paper, Bella Ballerina was the class of the field going into Saturday’s Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G2). She ran well, remaining consistent with her previous form, but that form was only good enough for second best. Making a strong move forward off the form she showed when second to Zany in the Suncoast Stakes on February 7, Life of Joy swooped toward the front around the far turn, had a clear lead as the field straightened away, and kept widening under a hand ride to finish 3¾ lengths in front. The win was the filly’s second stakes score, pairing with a win in the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill Downs last October, and brought her lifetime record to three wins and a second from five starts. It also moved her to the top of the leader board for a starting spot in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1), which will probably be her next start.
A daughter of Gun Runner, who needs no introduction as a sire, Life of Joy is the first foal of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Jordan’s Leo, herself the first named foal from Lady Is a Lioness. A daughter of 2005 American champion turf male Leroidesanimaux—a horse whose blistering turn of foot was perhaps echoed in Life of Joy’s sharp move to the lead in Saturday’s race—Lady Is a Lioness never raced but is a half sister to Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Roman Treasure (by Roman Ruler) and to multiple stakes-placed Beautiful Gem (by Mr. Prospector). Another half sister to Lady Is a Lioness, Hot Match (by Mr. Prospector), is the dam of 2003 Silverbulletday Stakes (USA-G2) winner Belle of Perintown (by Dehere), and Lady Is a Lioness is also a half sister to Jeanne’s Honor (by Honour and Glory), dam of listed stakes winner Going to Kukaro (by Speightstown).
Lady Is a Lioness was the last foal produced from 1988 Fantasy Stakes (USA-G1) winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up Jeanne Jones (by Nijinsky II), whose talented but unsound half brother Avenue of Flags (by Seattle Slew) became a good regional sire in the Southwest. The next dam in the tail-female line, 1983 El Encino Stakes (USA-G3) winner Beautiful Glass (by multiple Grade 2 winner Pass the Glass, by Buckpasser), is a half sister to dead-heat 1990 Beverly Hills Handicap (USA-G1) winner Beautiful Spirit (by Alydar) and to unraced Big Spirit (by Big Spruce), dam of the popular California racehorse Big Pal (by Beau’s Eagle).
On bloodlines, Life of Joy should have no trouble with the 9-furlong distance of the Kentucky Oaks, and her Equibase speed figure of 97 puts her among the top five possible candidates for the race. However, that figure was a 16-point jump from her previous race and 14 points above her previous lifetime best. This could indicate a period of rapid development (not uncommon for 3-year-olds in the spring), or it could signal a next-out regression as a big effort catches up with her. The former would make her a likely top-three finisher in the Oaks; the later would probably see her among the also-rans. The other area of concern for her is her off-the-pace running style, which could put her into some traffic trouble in a big field. Still, the quick gear change she pulled out in the Fair Grounds Oaks is hard to ignore, and that ability could be her ticket to a bouquet of lilies on May 1.
A daughter of Gun Runner, who needs no introduction as a sire, Life of Joy is the first foal of the stakes-placed Malibu Moon mare Jordan’s Leo, herself the first named foal from Lady Is a Lioness. A daughter of 2005 American champion turf male Leroidesanimaux—a horse whose blistering turn of foot was perhaps echoed in Life of Joy’s sharp move to the lead in Saturday’s race—Lady Is a Lioness never raced but is a half sister to Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner Roman Treasure (by Roman Ruler) and to multiple stakes-placed Beautiful Gem (by Mr. Prospector). Another half sister to Lady Is a Lioness, Hot Match (by Mr. Prospector), is the dam of 2003 Silverbulletday Stakes (USA-G2) winner Belle of Perintown (by Dehere), and Lady Is a Lioness is also a half sister to Jeanne’s Honor (by Honour and Glory), dam of listed stakes winner Going to Kukaro (by Speightstown).
Lady Is a Lioness was the last foal produced from 1988 Fantasy Stakes (USA-G1) winner and Kentucky Oaks runner-up Jeanne Jones (by Nijinsky II), whose talented but unsound half brother Avenue of Flags (by Seattle Slew) became a good regional sire in the Southwest. The next dam in the tail-female line, 1983 El Encino Stakes (USA-G3) winner Beautiful Glass (by multiple Grade 2 winner Pass the Glass, by Buckpasser), is a half sister to dead-heat 1990 Beverly Hills Handicap (USA-G1) winner Beautiful Spirit (by Alydar) and to unraced Big Spirit (by Big Spruce), dam of the popular California racehorse Big Pal (by Beau’s Eagle).
On bloodlines, Life of Joy should have no trouble with the 9-furlong distance of the Kentucky Oaks, and her Equibase speed figure of 97 puts her among the top five possible candidates for the race. However, that figure was a 16-point jump from her previous race and 14 points above her previous lifetime best. This could indicate a period of rapid development (not uncommon for 3-year-olds in the spring), or it could signal a next-out regression as a big effort catches up with her. The former would make her a likely top-three finisher in the Oaks; the later would probably see her among the also-rans. The other area of concern for her is her off-the-pace running style, which could put her into some traffic trouble in a big field. Still, the quick gear change she pulled out in the Fair Grounds Oaks is hard to ignore, and that ability could be her ticket to a bouquet of lilies on May 1.
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