Donna Veloce works at Del Mar; Kentucky Oaks still a possibility

Donna Veloce, the winner of the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes at Santa Anita in March and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies last November, worked a half-mile in 50.40 seconds at Del Mar on Friday for an intended start in the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on Sept. 4.

Donna Veloce has not raced since the Santa Ysabel, a 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. She was turned out briefly at a Florida farm in the spring for a rest and returned to trainer Simon Callaghan’s California stable in early June.

Donna Veloce has had three workouts in the last two weeks. Friday’s exercise was her first at a half-mile. Callaghan said he timed Donna Veloce galloping out five furlongs in 1:02, describing the effort as “pretty strong.”

“Over this deep track, that’s pretty good,” he said.

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Even though the Kentucky Oaks is six weeks away, Callaghan said the race is a realistic target.

“She’s pretty far along,” he said. “Her fitness level is pretty good. We’re moving forward and we’re happy. We think the Oaks is still a possibility.”

Callaghan said Bellafina is a candidate for the Grade 1 Ballerina Stakes for fillies and mares at Saratoga on Aug. 8 after a five-furlong workout in 1:02 at Del Mar on Friday. The $300,000 Ballerina is run at seven furlongs.

Bellafina, 4, was second to Sneaking Out as the 1-2 favorite in the Grade 2 Great Lady M. Stakes at Los Alamitos on July 4. Bellafina has won 7 of 16 starts, with all the wins in graded stakes.

The Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Handicap for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 21 is another option for Bellafina, Callaghan said.