BY BROCK SHERIDAN
It will be the same race but at a different track for Florida-bred R Disaster as she goes for her second straight title in the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom to be run Saturday at the new Belmont Park. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. for Rich Averill’s Averill Racing of Bradenton, Florida and Anthony Mattera’s Mattera Racing in Palm City, Florida, R Disaster won last year’s edition by three-and-a-half lengths at Aqueduct during the the Belmont at Big A meet on September 27.
This year, R Disaster faces five other fillies and mares, 3-years-old and older, going six-and-a-half furlongs in her first test outside Grade 1 company since taking the Grade 3 Hurricane Bertie at Gulfstream Park in March. In her three races since, all at seven furlongs, the 5-year-old daughter of Ocala Stud’s Awesome Slew won the Derby City Distaff presented by Ford (G1) by two-and-a-half lengths at Churchill Downs on May 2, was third in the Resolute Racing Madison at Keeneland on April 4 and was most recently sixth in the Resorts World Casino Ballerina (G1) at Saratoga Race Course on August 29.
Belmont marks her eighth different track in 18 career starts as she tries for the fifth stakes victory. In May of last year at Delaware Park, she won the $96,000 Rehoboth after finishing second to Florida-bred Nic’s Style in the Hurricane Bertie in March and second to stablemate Haulin Ice in the Grade 3 Vagrancy during the Belmont at Big A meet in May.
Overall, R Disaster has nine wins, six seconds and a third with a lifetime income of $1,330,765, making her by far the richest of her five rivals in the Gallant Bloom. She is out of the Gottcha Gold mare Making Havoc and was bred in Florida by Ocala Stud and FTBOA Hall of Fame member J. Michael O’Farrell Jr.
O’Farrell and Ocala Stud as breeders stand to earn a $5,000 Export Incentive from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association should R Disaster produce a Grade 2 victory outside of Florida.
Jose Ortiz, who rode R Disaster in her last four races in 2026 including in the Gallant Bloom, takes over for Tyler Gaffalione from post five. Under the allowance conditions, R Disaster will carry 126 pounds, conceding two pounds to every other contender.
Beauty Reigns looks to provide the stiffest competition as she departs a third-place finish in the Ballerina and won a upper tier, $100,000 optional claiming going seven furlongs at Saratoga on July 23, defeating Gallant Bloom-entrant Senza Parole by a half-length.
Beauty Reigns is trained by Bill Mott for Tranquility Lake Farms and sports four wins, three seconds and three thirds in 14 career races with earnings of $511,877.
Junior Alvarado will ride Beauty Reigns from post six.
Senza Parole also looks primed as she enters off a snappy two-and-a-quarter-length victory in a high level, $100,000 optional claiming over a muddy and sealed six furlongs at Saratoga on September 2, her only race since finishing second to Beauty Reigns.
By Gun Runner, Senza Parole has four wins, three seconds and a third in 10 career starts with earnings of $340,650.
Chad Brown will saddle Senza Parole for Don Alberto Stable and Flavien Prat rides from post two.
Completing the field are Munnings Express with Manny Franco named to ride, Queen Jubilee will have Edgard Zayas in the irons and Dylan Davis has the engagement on Paradise City.
Return to the September 23 issue of Wire to Wire
