The Ballston (Grade 2)- $400.000 Purse
SAR- For Fillies and Mares Four Years Old and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Inner Turf
August 27, 2022

We would be left with only five horses for the Grade 2 Ballston with the scratches of both Classic Princess and La Terrifiant, but there would still be plenty of quality left in the race. We would have a close finish between two horses that also ran against one another here in the Diana last month. Coming out on top would be the veteran, Proud Eights, for Mb Stables in what is her second win in her last three starts. Two starts back, she also won the Grade 1 Gamely, so the trainer will be hoping this hot run of form can continue into what figures to be her fourth straight appearance in the BC Fillies and Mares Turf later this year. Mb Stables is a two time winner of the race, having also won in 2017 with Love In The Mist. L Saez was aboard Proud Eights, and is a first time Ballston winner. Congratulations to them! The time of the victory was 1:39.87, which is right in line with other recent times. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.61)- It’s Ewa Beach shooting out to the lead for The American and quickly opening up an advantage of almost two lengths down the front stretch and into the turn. Shining Moments holds the second spot, on the rail for RNP Stables, with wise private sales purchase Numeric Madness running to her outside for Aer Stables. The eventual winner from Mb Stables, Proud Eights runs a length and a half behind them and it’s the same distance further back to the trailer, Rose Petals (Mb Stables).

(½ Mile- :46.91)- Ewa Beach continues to lead the race, and her advantage remains two lengths as no one puts on additional challenge on her yet. Shining Moments and Numeric Madness still keep one another company for the second spot, with Proud Eights still maintaining her spot in the pecking order, too. Rose Petals has the best seat in the house, watching it unfold in front of her.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Down the backstretch and around the final turn, Ewa Beach is still unchallenged at the front and looks to be in pretty good shape. Behind her, Shining Moments has surprisingly bowed out of things, though Numeric Madness is still able to stay within two lengths. That one would have a new horse running beside her now, as Proud Eights would begin to make her move within the turn, and by the top of the stretch was side by side for second. She seemed to have enough time to get to the leader, but would not be easy. Rose Petals was still well out of it.

(Finish- 1:39.87)- Early in the stretch, Proud Eights was gradually making up ground on Ewa Beach, but time was becoming more and more of an issue. Closing in on the wire, she was side by side with the pacesetter, who to her credit did not go away quietly. They would both do all they could, and in a photo, it is Proud Eights scoring the win over a rival she has now seen in three straight races. They both might be seeing more of Numeric Madness from this point, who was a game third. Shining Moments and Rose Petals are the last two.

About The Winner- Proud Eights, trained by Mb Stables and ridden to victory L Saez, is a six year old mare by Eight Eights and is out of Proud To Watch. She was bred in Kentucky by First Class Stable, and acquired by Mb Stables, via Estero Farms, in private sales in September 2021 for $750.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her tenth in 34 starts, and her eighth stake win, all of which are graded. Her career earnings are now $2,297.320.

Track: Firm
Time: :23³  :46⁴  1:10   1:39⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 1 Paid 24.00
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 1 – 4 Paid 8.20

Scratched: Classic Princess, La Terrifiant

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES