Awesome Slew’s top-class sprinter R Disaster scored a front-running victory in Thursday’s $250,000 Gallant Bloom S. (G2) at Belmont Park, earning the 5-year-old a likely trip to the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in late October.

The ultra-consistent mare was on top from the outset of the 6 ½-furlong contest, racing in hand through fractions of :22.67 and :45.78. Munnings Express got within a half-length at that point, but R Disaster shook her off and comfortably held sway over Senza Parole to win by 1 ¼-lengths in 1:16.17 on a fast track.

“We knew we had to run in the Ballerina, win, lose or draw because we needed her to get her fitness level back,” winning trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. said of R Disaster’s late-August return following a near four-month layoff. “And today, we’re back on track with her, and all being well, I think we’ll give her a shot in the Breeders’ Cup.”

R Disaster has a remarkable 10-6-1 record in 18 lifetime starts, earning $1.468,265. Other stakes wins on her resume include the Derby City Distaff (G1) and the Hurricane Bertie S. (G3).

R Disaster, one of two graded winners for Awesome Slew, was produced by the Ocala Stud and J. Michael O'Farrell Jr.-bred, eight-time winner Making Havoc.

“I’ve got to give Ocala Stud a ton of credit,” winning co-owner Richard Averill said. “We bought her privately. They always give me a good deal and know I’m mostly going to run in Florida for them. I actually claimed the mare--Making Havoc--for them at Tampa, and it’s been a fun story.”