Bellafina breezes, likely to go in Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bellafina, the easy winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes on Aug. 5, worked a half-mile in 49.80 seconds at Del Mar on Friday and is likely to start in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for 2-year-old fillies on Sept. 1.

Trainer Simon Callaghan said earlier this month that Bellafina’s condition would be monitored before a decision was reached whether to skip the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante at seven furlongs in favor of the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 29.

On Friday, Callaghan said Bellafina is on schedule for the Del Mar Debutante, pending a five-furlong workout next week.

“At the moment, it’s likely a go,” he said. “She’s really maturing.”

Owned by Kaleem Shah, who attended Friday’s workout, Bellafina was second at Los Alamitos in her debut on July 4. In the Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs, Bellafina led throughout to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

The Del Mar Debutante is a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2. Also expected for the Debutante is Brill, the outstanding winner of a maiden race on July 18 for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

Bob Baffert worked two candidates for the Del Mar Debutante on Friday – Chasing Yesterday and Der Lu.

Chasing Yesterday, a half-sister to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and a maiden-race winner on July 28, worked six furlongs in 1:13. Der Lu, a maiden-race winner on Aug. 5, worked six furlongs in 1:14.60.

Callaghan knows the Del Mar Debutante will be a stern test for Bellafina.

“For me, it will be the best race of the meeting,” Callaghan said.