Bellafina targets two-turn Chandelier Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. - Bellafina was in no hurry in the final furlong of her Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante victory on Saturday.

With a three-length lead at the eighth-pole Bellafina was clear of any threats. She won the $300,000 Debutante at seven furlongs by 4 1/4 lengths over the maiden race winner Mother Mother.

The win left trainer Simon Callaghan looking toward the Grade 1 Chandelier Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 29 and a first-ever test around two turns for the talented Bellafina.

This is a familiar position for Callaghan. Last year he won the Debutante with Moonshine Memories, who later won the Chandelier, but was only seventh as the 2-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar, her last start around two turns.

Bellafina may accomplish more this fall, according to Callaghan.

“I think she’s really good, this filly,” Callaghan said on Sunday morning. “I think we have a filly that I’m confident can get the distance. Moonshine Memories is more of a sprinter. This filly I think will get farther.”

Bellafina will need to be quicker to win her upcoming Grade 1 assignments. On Saturday, she ran seven furlongs in 1:25.51, the slowest Debutante since Set Play was timed in 1:26.79 in 2007. Bellafina earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 75, much lower than the career-high 94 earned in the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes at six furlongs on Aug. 5.

“I thought the track was slow” Saturday, Callaghan said.

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellafina has won 2 of 3 starts. She was second in a maiden race at Los Alamitos on July 4. Well before that race, Bellafina had impressed Callaghan in workouts.

“In the morning, she showed she’s got the extra gear,” he said.

Mother Mother and Brill, who was fourth in the Debutante as the 7-10 favorite, are likely for the Chandelier. Both had their second starts and first appearances in stakes in the Debutante.

Mother Mother disputed the pace with Bellafina before fading from contention in early stretch.

“She ran all right,” trainer Bob Baffert said.

Brill, ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, was last of five on the backstretch and within two lengths of Bellafina with three furlongs remaining before fading to finish 8 1/2 lengths behind the winner. The loss stunned trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who had high expectations for Brill.

“I was surprised that she didn’t run well,” he said. “Drayden was surprised. I didn’t have a horse at the meeting that worked better than her.”