Bellafina was in season for BC Juvenile Fillies, trainer says

ARCADIA, Calif. - Bellafina was in season when she finished fourth as the 9-5 favorite in Friday’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs, trainer Simon Callaghan said Sunday.

Bellafina, the winner of three consecutive graded stakes at Del Mar and Santa Anita in August and September, was shipped back to Callaghan’s stable at Santa Anita on Saturday.

“She’s come out of the race fine, sound,” Callaghan said. “We did notice that she was quite in season after the race. She’s still showing that she’s in heat.

“It’s one of those things that was unfortunate timing. We’re not making excuses. It’s obviously disappointing.”

Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellafina has won 3 of 5 starts and earned $608,000. In the BC Juvenile Fillies, Bellafina was second by a length on the turn, but faded from contention and finished 9 1/4 lengths behind Jaywalk.

Jaywalk is a leading contender for the Eclipse Award as the nation’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2018. There will be support for the undefeated turf filly Newspaperofrecord, who won the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf at Churchill Downs on Friday.

Bellafina’s chances for the title were greatly diminished with her loss. Callaghan said he and Shah have not made plans for Bellafina’s next start. There is one more graded stakes for 2-year-old fillies in Southern California this year – the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Los Alamitos on Dec. 8.

“I really don’t know what we’ll do at this moment,” Callaghan said.

Callaghan said the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3 is a springtime goal for Bellafina.