Bellerin undergoes change for the better

ARCADIA, Calif. – Bellerin showed renewed focus last month in his first race as a gelding. After losing his first four starts, Bellerin won a maiden race at a mile at Santa Anita on March 9 for track chairman Keith Brackpool and trainer Carla Gaines.

The encouraging win has led to Bellerin’s first start against winners in an allowance race with a $75,000 claiming option in Sunday’s eighth race.

“We saw a significant change for the better with him,” Gaines said. “It seemed to be successful.”

Sunday’s nine-race program does not have a stakes, but there are three optional-claiming races, including two races on turf. First post is 11:30 a.m. Pacific.

First race

The program opens with an allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Fly to Mars, who has won two of his last three starts on the hillside course, will be favored. Owned by Gary Barber and trained by Peter Miller, Fly to Mars was second in the restricted Clocker’s Corner Stakes on the hillside Jan. 28. The 4-year-old gelding is effective racing on the pace or as a stalker.

Miller also starts Anatolian Heat, a winner on the hillside last October who was second by a head in an optional claimer at a mile on turf Feb. 15.

The first race will be the 2018 debut of Ann Arbor Eddie, a two-time stakes winner who has not raced since finishing seventh at 53-1 in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 25. Trained by Doug O’Neill, Ann Arbor Eddie has never raced on the hillside turf course.

Sixth race

Spin Me a Kiss is well placed to win the fourth race of her career in an allowance with a $62,500 optional claimer on the hillside turf course for fillies and mares. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Spin Me a Kiss was second in a similar race Feb. 25 behind Blame It On Alphie, who was second in the Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside March 25 for trainer Richard Mandella.

Mandella starts Bowie in this optional claimer. The filly was fourth behind Blame It On Alphie on Feb. 25 after setting the pace. She led throughout an optional claimer on the hillside Feb. 3.

Eighth race

Bellerin led throughout his maiden race win, but Gaines says the 4-year-old is not reliant on that style.

“In the morning, he doesn’t indicate that at all,” she said. “Hopefully that will translate in the races. He’s running back pretty quick, but he’s doing well.”

Since being gelded, Bellerin’s attitude has improved in “the paddock, the barn, the track,” Gaines said.

“He has changed so much,” she said.

Donworth and Deal With It Dude will pursue Bellerin. They were second and third in a similar race on a wet-fast track at a mile March 3.

Donworth has finished in the first three in all four of his starts at the meet, including a win on Dec. 30.