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Bal a Bali lives up to billing with stellar U.S. bow in American

Bal a Bali will now set his sights on the Manhattan or Shoemaker Mile (Benoit Photo) Brazilian superstar Bal a Bali (Put It Back) ran right up to his 3-2 favoritism in Saturday's $100,750 American S. (G3) at Santa Anita, and this successful U.S. debut -- off an 11-month layoff -- portends even better to come from the once-beaten champion. Imported last summer by new owners Fox Hill Farms and Siena Farm, Bal a Bali was originally intended to prepare for the 2014 Breeders' Cup. But before he could join Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella in Southern California, he developed laminitis during the Miami phase of his journey. Bal a Bali responded to treatment, made an excellent recovery, and eventually made his way to Mandella. "It really is fulfilling to get his first race in the U.S. under his belt, because he really had a serious problem coming out of quarantine when he had laminitis," Mandella said. "The podiatrist at Rood & Riddle (in Lexington, Kentucky) named Vernon Dryden did an unbelievable job of getting him back like this. He's based in Kentucky but he's gone to Florida and worked on him, he also came out here and worked on him. I can't say enough about the job he did." Now the Brazilian Horse of the Year, and Triple Crown winner, looks ready to make up for lost time.

With Flavien Prat aboard, Bal a Bali was nestled in midpack while War Academy (Giant's Causeway) carved out moderate fractions of :23 4/5 and :48 on the firm turf. The prompting Winning Prize (Pure Prize) put his head in front through six furlongs in 1:11 4/5 and tried to inch away at the top of the stretch, but he was soon accosted by Talco (Pivotal).

Bal a Bali, in the thick of contention but briefly needing room, bravely came through between them. Despite his lack of race-fitness, the champion found another gear to surge ahead. Bal a Bali drew off by one length and negotiated the grassy mile in 1:35 3/5, returning $5 to his fans. Talco held the runner-up spot by 1 1/4 lengths from the fast-finishing Gabriel Charles (Street Hero). Winning Prize tired to fourth.

Mandella wasn't fazed by the traffic Bal a Bali encountered.

"Yes, but he's a pro," the Hall of Famer said. "He's run enough times. He knows what he's doing. Flav's a pro, too."

"He did a great job today," said Prat, who was racking up his third win on the card. "he's just a really good horse. I had a little trouble on the turn because it was his first time on a short turn like that but he can run longer than this; he can run a mile. He's a great horse.

"He has worked so good in the mornings so I was pretty confident. He just repeated his works today. I wasn't really surprised (by his win). He was the champion in Brazil so he can be the champion here -- why not?"

Now sporting a 13-12-0-1 line, Bal a Bali boosted his bankroll to $570,078. His lone loss came in his juvenile campaign, when third in the 2013 Grande Premio Conde de Herzberg (Brz-G2). He was otherwise unbeatable for Stud Alvarenga and trainer Dulcino Guignoni. Earlier at two, he accounted for the Premio Jose Calmon and Grand Premio Mario de Azevedo Ribeiro (Brz-G3). The beginning of his sophomore season was highlighted by scores in the Premio Ernani de Freitas and Premio Julio Capua (Brz-G3).

Bal a Bali went on to sweep the 2014 Triple Crown at Gavea. He crushed the Grande Premio Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brz-G1) by 7 1/2 lengths in course record (and near world-record) time for the metric mile, 1:31.36. He added the Grande Premio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (Brz-G1), over 2,000 meters, by 3 3/4 lengths. And in the Grande Premio Cruzeiro do Sul (Brz-G1) at 2,400 meters, he set another Gavea course record in 2:23.25.

The dark bay concluded his Brazilian career by beating older horses in the Gran Premio Doutor Frontin (Brz-G2) and the Grande Premio Brasil (Brz-G1), a Breeders' Cup Challenge event, last June 8.

Bal a Bali was bred in Brazil by Haras Santa Maria de Araras. The five-year-old is out of Group 3 vixen In My Side (Clackson), and his pedigree features 4x4 inbreeding to the matriarch Gonfalon (Francis S.).

Mandella mentioned that Bal a Bali could step up to 1 1/4 miles for the $1 million Manhattan (G1) on Belmont Day, June 6, or keep to a mile at home for the $400,000 Shoemaker Mile (G1) at Santa Anita June 13.

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