Bleu Ballon Impresses for Air Force Blue
Stepaside Farm homebred Bleu Ballon (3f Air Force Blue x Entrechat, by Giant’s Causeway) was the second winner of the weekend for Air Force Blue with a win at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Racing in a Maiden Special Weight over six furlongs on the turf, the filly was quickly in front and galloped with her ears pricked about a length in front of the field. With Jessica Pyfer aboard, she continued to build her lead and had a few lengths by the time they turned into the stretch.
The filly was given only a few taps in the stretch to keep her mind focused as she galloped home easily to win by 2 ¾ lengths for trainer Sean McCarthy.
Making her second start, Bleu Ballon followed the lead of her Grade III-placed Giant’s Causeway dam Entrechat. That mare also won a Maiden Special Weight on the Santa Anita turf in only her second start in 2015. Entrechat is out of the stakes winning mare Ballet Pacifica, who is also the dam of stakes winner Secretary At War among her three stakes performers.
Ballet Pacifica herself is a daughter of multiple Grade I winner Kostroma and a half-sister to Grade I winner Ariege with multiple Grade I winner Nashoba’s Key also in the family.
Entrechat also has a 2-year-old colt by Practical Joke named Dancing Rinca.
Bleu Ballon is the 21st winner for European Champion Air Force Blue, who is the sire of four stakes performers from his first crop.