All eyes on Bellafina in Las Virgenes

ARCADIA, Calif. – It did not take long for California’s best 2-year-old filly last year to find her swagger this year. Bellafina is changing.

“We’re definitely seeing maturity. Mentally and physically she’s blossoming and filling out,” trainer Simon Callaghan said. “She’s got a presence about her, an air of confidence in everything she does. She has grown into herself. She is a stronger, better filly now.”

One month after launching her campaign with a smashing sprint victory, Bellafina will stretch out as a heavy favorite Saturday in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita. The one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies attracted five runners.

The improving Grade 1-placed Enaya Alrabb makes her first start of 2019, Calf Moon Bay seeks her third straight victory in her initial stakes race, and Mother Mother adds blinkers after losing to Bellafina by more than eight lengths. Tomlin also was entered.

The Las Virgenes centers on Bellafina, a four-time graded winner whose only blemish was a fourth-place finish as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs. Whether she returns to Kentucky will remain undecided until Bellafina runs April 6 in the 1 1/16-mile Santa Anita Oaks.

“From there, we can gauge whether the Kentucky Oaks is the next option or whether we go for something like the Acorn,” Callaghan said, referring to the one-turn mile at Belmont Park. “In the Santa Anita Oaks, we can get a good gauge on ultimately her best distance, which is still to be determined.”

There is no doubt regarding ability. A two-time Grade 1 winner last year, Bellafina trounced her rivals last out in the Grade 2, seven-furlong Santa Ynez last month.

Although winter has been wet, it has not affected Bellafina. “We had to breeze her one day earlier, but she has not missed any work,” Callaghan said.

The Las Virgenes is race 5 on an 11-race Saturday card. First post is 11:30 a.m.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bellafina, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 95-78-89

◗ Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellafina has won 4 of 6 and earned $708,000. Flavien Prat is her regular rider.

Enaya Alrabb, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 82-57-57

◗ She was a 30-1 outsider making her third career start when she missed by a head in the Grade 1 Starlet at Los Alamitos.

◗ Trained by Doug O’Neill, Enaya Alrabb makes her first start in two months with a work pattern that suggests she is poised for a forward move. Mike Smith rides.

Calf Moon Bay, by Bodemeister
Last 3 Beyers: 71-68-53

◗ She improved after stretching out. Following a runner-up finish in a maiden mile in October, she has won twice at a mile – a maiden race and a first-level allowance. Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, she will be ridden by Joel Rosario.

Mother Mother, by Pioneerof the Nile
Last 3 Beyers: 79-81-78

◗ Bob Baffert trains the blinkers-on filly, whose only previous route race was a third-place finish in the Starlet at Los Alamitos. Drayden Van Dyke rides.