ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Simon Callaghan thought Bellafina was exceptional when she was purchased for $800,000 at the Gulfstream sale of 2-year-olds in training last spring. She has proven him right. In eight starts, Bellafina has won six graded stakes, the latest being the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks on Saturday, a comprehensive win that will make her the favorite in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3. “The filly is just the perfect filly,” Callaghan said on Sunday. :: Add Santa Anita Clocker Reports to your handicapping arsenal This year, Bellafina is unbeaten in three starts, all stakes. Her most recent defeat was a fourth as the 9-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs last November, her only loss in a stakes. “It wasn’t her day,” Callaghan said. “It has nothing to do with the track.” Bellafina can prove Callaghan’s point with a win in the Kentucky Oaks at 1 1/8 miles. In the $392,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, Bellafina raced wide throughout and took command in early stretch. Ridden by Flavien Prat, Bellafina led by two lengths with a furlong remaining and won by 5 1/4 lengths over Flor de La Mar. “She’s got speed, but she relaxes,” Callaghan said. “She waits for Flavien’s cue. She’s gotten so professional. It’s nice to see that progression.” Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellafina has won 6 of 8 starts and earned $1,068,000. She was second in her debut at Los Alamitos last July in a maiden race. Bellafina paid $2.60 in the Santa Anita Oaks. Later on Saturday, the Callaghan-trained Hostess won her American debut in the Grade 3 Providencia Stakes in a 25-1 upset. The $151,755 Providencia Stakes was Hostess’s first start in the United States and first start since a win in an allowance race at tiny Chelmsford City racecourse near London last October. Hostess beat the Callaghan-trained Maxim Rate by a nose on Saturday. Maxim Rate, a 9-2 chance, finished a nose in front of Lady Prancealot, the 5-2 favorite. The $1 exacta paid $145.20. “I didn’t have the exacta,” Callaghan said. “I’m not that clever.” Callaghan said he was impressed with Maxim Rate, who won a maiden race in her debut Feb. 16. “She did everything right for the second race of her career,” Callaghan said. Callaghan said Hostess or Maxim Rate will run in the Grade 3 Edgewood Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Churchill Downs on May 3, and the other will run in the Grade 3 Senorita Stakes at a mile on turf here May 4.