Ballydoyle's Raiding Party Primed for Belmont

With the first leg of the NYRA's Turf Triple series set to commence at Belmont Park on July 10, bloodhorse.com reports that the Ballydoyle contingent of Bolshoi Ballet (Galileo-Alta Anna, by Anabaa) and Santa Barbara (Camelot-Senta's Dream, by Danehill) arrived on July 4 from their Irish Training Centre. Bolshoi Ballet will line-up in the US$1 million Gr1 Belmont Derby Invitational while Santa Barbara will target the Gr1 US$700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational. Both races are over 2000m on turf. Commenting on the conditioning of the pair, Aidan O'Brien's traveling assistant TJ Comerford reported, "They're perfect. They've arrived in great shape." O'Brien is targeting his second success in the Belmont Derby Invitational with Bolshoi Ballet following the success of Deauville (Galileo) in 2016 with Bolshoi Ballet winning his two prior engagements prior to his Seventh in the Gr1 Epsom Derby when favorite. Bolshoi Ballet is by international goliath Galileo from Anabaa mare Alta Anna. Meanwhile, Santa Barbara will line up in the Oaks Invitational off the back of 2nd placing to Thundering Nights (Night of Thunder) in the Gr1 Pretty Polly Stakes on June 27 at the Curragh. Comerford was glowing in his assessment of her: "She's a filly that we think a lot of. She ran in some tough races this year after winning her maiden race. She's taken everything in [her] stride."