Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella is relishing the prospect of having Bal A Bali (BRZ), winner of the Brazilian Triple Crown in 2013 and already qualified for a spot in the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) Nov. 1, in his barn soon.
Mandella had recently received past performance sheets, which showed track record performances by Bal A Bali in Brazil at a mile and 1 1/2 miles. The mile time, 1:31.36, approached the world record. A victory in the Gran Premio Brazil (Brz-I), a "Win And You're In" Breeders' Cup qualifier, secured a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Bal A Bali has been flown to Miami and is in quarantine pending shipment to Del Mar. He will train at Del Mar but not race there. Bal A Bali was recently purchased by Fox Hill Farm and Siena Farm in Kentucky through John Fulton, former Southern California trainer and South America-connected bloodstock agent.
Fulton and Mandella paired up last year with import Indy Point, winner of the 2013 John Henry Turf Championship (gr. IIT) and third in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
"I just got a call asking me if I would take him," Mandella said. He added, with typical Mandella dry humor: "I guess they hadn't checked my record at Del Mar this year."
Mandella has enjoyed great success with South American imports such as Argentine-bred Gentlemen, whose victories included the 1997 Pacific Classic (gr. I).
"This is kind of like that, I think Gentlemen had won two-thirds of the Argentine Triple Crown," Mandella said. "Very few come along with a record and pedigree like this. It's very exciting."
Bal A Bali
Gerson Martins