Bellafina impresses in Del Mar Debutante

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bellafina will leave Del Mar for Santa Anita in a few days as the leader of California’s 2-year-old filly division.

Saturday, Bellafina won her second stakes in as many starts at this popular summer meeting, pulling clear in the final furlong of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante for a convincing 4 1/4-length victory.

Bellafina ($6.60) gave trainer Simon Callaghan a second consecutive win in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante. He won last year with Moonshine Memories.

Ridden by Flavien Prat, Bellafina disputed the pace with the highly regarded maiden Mother Mother before taking the lead on the turn.

“We knew there would be some speed,” Prat said. “She was a bit aggressive.”

Mother Mother, who was ridden by Joe Talamo, led through an opening quarter-mile in 21.93 seconds, in front by a head. Bellafina, racing outside of Mother Mother, led by a head after a half-mile in 44.68.

“She’s fast,” Callaghan said. “She placed Flavien instead of Flavien placing her. We thought she’d be farther back.”

Bellafina finished seven furlongs in 1:25.51 on a day when Callaghan thought the track was slow. Bellafina earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 75.

“We worked a few horses this morning and I thought the track was incredibly deep,” he said. “After that, I’m not too worried about the time.”

Boujie Girl, a 16-1 outsider, finished third, followed by 7-10 favorite Brill and Watch Me Burn. Only five ran. Brill was a never a factor. She was last of five on the backstretch and was third on the turn before fading from contention.

Mother Mother had her stakes debut and second start in the Debutante. Trained by Bob Baffert, Mother Mother won a maiden special weight race by 6 1/2 lengths on July 22.

“She certainly ran good,” Talamo said. “She was taking heat from the winner through the race. She still stayed on. We went pretty quick early on. I think she’s going to improve off this.”

Bellafina, by Quality Road, is owned by Kaleem Shah. She was purchased for $800,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Sale in Florida in March.

Bellafina has won 2 of 3 starts and earned $308,000. Bellafina was second in a maiden special weight race at Los Alamitos on July 4 and rebounded to win the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs here on Aug. 5.

Callaghan said Bellafina will be considered for the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for 2-year-old fillies at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, a key prep for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.

Last year, Moonshine Memories won the Chandelier and finished seventh in the BC Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. Moonshine Memories starts in Sunday’s Grade 2 Prioress Stakes at Saratoga.