Bellafina in 3-year-old debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – More than two months after a quiet fourth as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs, Bellafina will have her 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes for fillies at Santa Anita.

The loss in the BC Juvenile Fillies – by 9 1/4 lengths to the multiple stakes winner Jaywalk – essentially ended Bellafina’s chances of winning the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding 2-year-old filly of 2018. Bellafina could have started in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8 as a last chance to sway voters, but owner Kaleem Shah and trainer Simon Callaghan opted to focus on 2019.

“I thought running her in there, there was not enough time,” Callaghan said of the Starlet. “We decided to gear up for this year.”

Bellafina, bought for $800,000 at a 2-year-olds in training sale last March, is part of a field of five in the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes, the eighth race on a nine-race program. Bellafina must beat Mother Mother, third in the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes, and Tomlin, the winner of the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes on Nov. 23.

Sold It, fifth in the Starlet in her stakes debut, and Reflect, who was ninth in the BC Juvenile Fillies, are the other two runners in the small field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bellafina, by Quality Road Last 3 Beyers: 78-89-75

◗ Bellafina won consecutive Grade 1 races in September – the Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs on Sept. 1 and the Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles here on Sept 29. In the BC Juvenile Fillies, Bellafina was bumped at the start. She was third for the first half-mile, and was within a length of the lead on the turn, but faded steadily through the stretch.

“It was a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Cup,” Callaghan said. “After the Breeders’ Cup, we jogged her for several weeks.

“I like seven furlongs for her first race. Hopefully, it will be a springboard to a good year.”

◗ Bellafina can race near the front, and is likely to stalk Mother Mother, who drew the rail. Tomlin has shown speed in her three wins in Northern California.

“I think the race will set up for her,” Callaghan said.

Mother Mother, by Pioneerof the Nile Last 3 Beyers: 81-78-67

◗ Mother Mother was second by 4 1/4 lengths to Bellafina in the Del Mar Debutante in their first meeting. Mother Mother later won the Rags to Riches Stakes at a mile at Churchill Downs on Oct. 28.

◗ In the Starlet Stakes, Mother Mother set the pace from the inside and gave way late to finish a neck behind winner Chasing Yesterday. Mother Mother and Chasing Yesterday are trained by Bob Baffert.

“I was debating whether to run her because it was coming up tough,” Baffert said of Mother Mother. “Bellafina, if she shows up, she’s the horse to beat.”

◗ Mother Mother will race without blinkers for the first time since the Del Mar Debutante.

“I took the blinkers off to get her to relax,” Baffert said. Get the latest news from Santa Anita at live.drf.com