Balnikhov (IRE)

Balnikhov’s maiden win came on a synthetic racing surface in France in his first career start on Dec. 22, 2021, in the waning days before his third birthday. He was transferred so the southern California barn of trainer Phil D’Amato for his 3-year-old season, which began on April 2, 2022, in heartbreaking fashion at Santa Anita, finishing second by a nose in a head bob in the $100,000 Singletary Stakes at one mile on the grass.

Balnikhov continued to run well but had to wait a little longer for his first North American victory. He shipped to Churchill Downs to run in the Grade 2 $500,000 American Turf on May 7 but settled for second again that day. He then returned to SoCal and finished fourth in his next start on June 4 in the $100,000 Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita.

Balnikhov finally got the first stakes win under his belt on opening day of the Del Mar summer meet on July 21 when he made a big last-to-first move in a field of 12 to win the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes on one mile on the turf. He followed that up with a fourth-place finish back in graded stakes company when beaten only a total of 1 ¼ lengths in the Grade 2 $300,000 Del Mar Derby on Sept. 2.

Balnikhov scored his first graded stakes victory on Oct. 29 when he shipped back to Kentucky and took the Grade 3 $300,000 Bryan Station Stakes. He once again came with his trademark deep closing running style, passing horses from 11th in the field of 12 to get up in time to win by a neck margin over 2-1 favorite Wit. He ran the one mile on turf in a time of 1:35.48.

Balnikhov was bred in Ireland by the sire Adaay out of the mare Leeward by First Defence.