Bella Ballerina kicks off Gaffalione’s Rachel Alexandra-Risen Star sweep

Stakes recap by Fair Grounds publicity team (Hodges Photography photos of Bella Ballerina winning the G2 Rachel Alexandra)

Hit Show wins Mineshaft thriller; Lagynos rolls in FG

New Orleans, La (Feb. 14, 2026) – Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s $300,000 Fasig-Tipton Rachel Alexandra (G2), the Godolphin homebred Bella Ballerina rewarded her many backers with the win, but it was far from easy.

Off since her late November victory in the Golden Rod (G2) at Churchill, the unbeaten 3-year-old daughter of Street Sense went right to the lead under jockey Tyler Gaffalione. Chased on the outside through an honest opening half mile in 46.98, Bella Ballerina was set down off the turn for home but was headed by the outside rival at the top of the stretch. At the eighth pole Bella Ballerina switched to her right lead (correct) on the inside of Luv Your Neighbor and fought back gamely to prevail by a half length in a final time of 143.38 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.

“She relaxed well for me going into the far turn and had to battle down the stretch to get it done,” said jockey Tyler Gaffalione, who would win the Risen Star (G2) one race later with Paladin. “I thought she was getting a little tired on me but the more I asked of her the more she dug in.”

With the win, Bella Ballerina earned 50 points on the Road to Longines Kentucky Oaks and she now tops the leaderboard with 60. Luv Your Neighbor (earned 25 now has 4)) was a clear second in front of Just Singing (earned 15 now has 18), who closed belatedly for third. Also earning Oaks points for finishing fourth and fifth were Powered by Family (10) and Classic Guide (5). Majestical crossed the line last in the field of six. 

“Hats off to her. She fought hard when she could’ve got beat,” trainer Brendan Walsh said. “I think she’ll improve a lot from her run today. She probably needed today’s race I was still able to get the job done.”

Bella Ballerina’s half sister Pretty Mischievous, also a Godolphin homebred trained by Brendan Walsh, won the Rachel Alexandra three years ago for the same connections and went on to win the Kentucky Oaks.

Bella Ballerina, who won her debut at Keeneland, is now perfect from three starts with a career bankroll of $481,000. She paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10. Luv Your Neighbor returned $5.00 and $3.60 and Just Singing paid $2.40 to show.

Since the race was renamed in honor of Hall of Fame filly Rachel Alexandra in 2010, five fillies have parlayed a victory in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes into a Kentucky Oaks triumph: Good Cheer (2025), Pretty Mischievous (2023), Serengeti Empress (2019), Monomoy Girl (2018) and Untapable (2014). Prior to the renaming, Summerly (2005), Silverbulletday (1999), Blushing K. D. (1997) and Tiffany Lass (1986) likewise won both races.

The final leg of the Fair Grounds series for 3-year-old fillies is the Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) to be run on Louisiana Derby Day, Saturday March 21.

Additional quotes: 

Luis Saez, jockey of second-place finisher Luv Your Neighbor

“I had Bella Ballerina under pressure the whole way. I had the horse but as soon as she opened up she just stopped.”

John Velazquez, jockey of third-place finisher Just Singing

“She ran a good race. I thought the top two fillies would come back to me but they never did.”

Jose Ortiz, jockey of fourth-place finisher Powered by Family

“I was able to break good and put her a lot closer than before without overdoing it. She’s a very very nice filly. She just broke her maiden, it was a big step up.”

Ben Curtis, jockey of sixth-place finisher Majestical

“I traveled beautifully into the quarter pole. And it was a long way home from there, but the front two quickened up very well. That was just her third run – she’ll step forward.” 

Hit Show tops $9 million with Mineshaft win

NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 14, 2026) — Put into the race early, Kentucky-based Hit Show prevailed late in a hard-fought stretch drive to take the Grade 3 $250,000 Mineshaft presented by Hagyard on Saturday at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The 2025 Dubai World Cup titleholder covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.49, just off the track record of 1:42.01, set by Olympiad in the 2022 edition of the Mineshaft.

Trained by Brad Cox and piloted by Florent Geroux, Hit Show is owned by Wathnan Racing.

“He’s a fighter,” Geroux said. “When he’s in a fight, he’ll give it his all the entire way. He’s always been regarded as a nice horse. He was on the Kentucky Derby trail as a 3-year-old. Now as he’s gone on to become more mature, both physically and mentally. That development has helped him continue to step his game up from his 2-year-old season to now.”

Hustled from the gate, Hit Show tracked Accelerize while Time to Win sat just behind the leader. After Accelerize posted opening fractions of :23.53 and :47.04, Hit Show and Time to Win launched their bids at the top of the stretch. Accelerize drifted out, hampering Time to Win and squaring off with Hit Show, but Hit Show surged in the final strides to beat that foe by a head. Time to Win finished third.

“We knew coming into this race Accelerize was the horse to beat,” assistant trainer Ricky Giannini said. “He beat a nice one of ours, Just a Touch, in his last start. It was a dog fight the entire way. Hopefully we can get lucky to get another Dubai World Cup win. We’ve had him since he was a 2-year-old when he was with Gary and Mary West. Now with Wathnan Racing, we really appreciate them keeping him in our care.”

Sent off as the favorite, Hit Show returned $4.20, $3, and $2.10.

With the Mineshaft win, Hit Show boosted his career earnings to $9,052,183. The 6-year-old, bred by Gary and Mary West, improved his lifetime record to 24-12-2-1, including winning eight graded stakes.

Lagynos impressive in winning Fair Grounds S.

NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 14, 2026) — HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal Al Saud’s Lagynos made a bold three-wide move around the far turn and kicked clear late for a 2 ¼- length victory in Saturday’s $175,000 Fair Grounds Stakes presented by Horse Racing Nation (Grade 3) on Louisiana Derby Preview Day at Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots.

Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and ridden by Jose Ortiz, Lagynos completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.02 over the rated “firm” Stall-Wilson Turf Course.

It was a perfect start to the Fair Grounds Stakes with Idratherbeblessed taking command of the field into the first turn with a composed :23.53 quarter-mile. Up the backstretch, Lagynos was positioned in third by Oritz, tracking Idratherbeblessed and the comebacking Brilliant Berti. Following a half-mile in :48.13, Lagynos began to make his move while remaining three wide. At the top of the stretch, Lagynos hit the front and held off the closing kick of 2-1 favorite Montador.

Kapuna rallied down the center of the turf to finish third. He was followed by Brilliant Berti, Sand Pipes, Cameo Performance, Point Proven, Gigante, Idratherbeblessed and Agate Road.

“My horse broke well and was able to put him in a forward position,” Ortiz said. “When I had to ask him to go, he was there for me the entire way. We were a little worried going this far before. I just had to try to go at the right time. When I asked him to go he responded beautifully.”

“He’s a lovely horse, we’re very fortunate to have him,” Asmussen said. “Jose (Ortiz) did a great job to help him get this distance. He relaxed beautifully and kicked home powerfully.”

With his victory in the Fair Grounds Stakes, Lagynos improved his career record to 24-5-5-7 with purse earnings of $1,830,166.

Lagynos is a 5-year-old chestnut son of Kantharos out of the Speightstown mare Steamy. He was bred in Kentucky by Robert Spiegel.