The Ballerina (Grade 1) (BC)- $500.00 Purse
SAR- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
August 29, 2026

Gigafemme entered the Grade 1 Ballerina looking promising, winning the Grade 2 Chicago Stakes at CD in her prior start, and showing that she could win big races. Now, she can add the Ballerina to her resume, clinching her spot in the BC F & M Sprint and simply earning a big win for trainer Big Guns Stables. For the trainer, it is their first Ballerina victory, and that is also true for jockey M E Smith. Gigafemme was our second choice, and we did get that small exacta if you boxed it. The time of the win was 1:21.49, tying for the second quickest such time in the race’s history, equaling Lady Sammyantha, so not bad company there. Let’s take a look at it now!

(1/4 Mile- :22.44)- Post time favorite Altered State goes right to the front for Mb Stables, and that’s typically exactly where she wants to be early on. Running a length behind her, we have the Royalty Stables- trained Lilahs Empire to the inside of TwinTowersRacing’s Dolphin Bay. Running behind them is Martyparty’s Honey, with another length to Maxmillion Farm’s Lucky Star. Next in line, we have our eventual winner from Big Guns Stables, Gigafemme, and she is officially four lengths off the lead while in sixth. At the back, the trailers, Chase The Money (Avenue Z) and So Beautiful (Temulac Farm) run together.

(½ Mile- :45.66)- Altered State is showing why she is the favorite, running with plenty of strength in her stride as she opens up by two. Lilahs Empire and Dolphin Bay are still beside one another for second, probably hoping the leader comes back to them. Honey patiently runs in the middle of the field, as behind them Gigafemme slips past Lucky Star for the fifth spot but has not made up ground to the leader. So Beautiful and Chase The Money trail, and are leaving themselves a big hole to have to dig out of.

(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- It’s still Altered State in front as she looks to pick up another wire to wire win. Things are starting to get interesting behind her, but not because of anything Lilahs Empire or Dolphin Bay were doing. Instead, Honey would swing out to a four wide position to look to power on by them, and there would be a large opening on exit of the turn setting up, which was just perfect for Gigafemme. Like the veteran jockey he is, M E Smith capitalized on that and was only a length out of second at this point. Otherwise, Lucky Star was dropping back, but So Beautiful was looking very interested in making a run. But man, she had a lot of work to do. Chase The Money did not appear as interested.

(Finish- 1:21.49)- At the top of the stretch, all that was left was to watch Altered State run. Right? Well, that’s not how this one is going to play out. She would the best she could to hang on, but in the final furlong, particularly, Gigafemme was closing in with authority, and suddenly we looked like we would have a close finish on our hands. On the far outside, So Beautiful was not going to back down either. Approaching the wire, there was more than enough time for Gigafemme given her powerful stride, and it would instead be her going on to a comfortable win at the end, doing so by a length. So Beautiful nearly caught Altered State, but will have to settle for third in the photo for place. Fourth place spoils go to Lilahs Empire, who had a steady run to the wire. The rest of the order will read Honey, Chase The Money, Dolphin Bay, and Lucky Star.

About The Winner- Gigafemme, trained by Big Guns Stables and ridden to victory by M E Smith, is a four year old filly by Hashrate and is out of Valentina. She was bred as a yearling in New York by Big Guns Stables, and they have been together throughout. Congratulations to the connections! The win is her seventh in 21 starts, her fifth stake win and fourth graded win. Her career earnings are now $1,659.12.

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES