Few rivals for Bellafina in Santa Anita Oaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – All five of Bellafina’s wins have come in graded stakes. The only losses in her seven-race career came in a maiden race at Los Alamitos last July and a fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs last November as the favorite.

The setback cost Bellafina the title of champion 2-year-old filly. The framework is in place for a run at the 3-year-old filly title this year.

Bellafina will start as a strong favorite in Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles as a prep for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 3.

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“She’s ready,” trainer Simon Callaghan said earlier this week. “She’s doing everything you want to see. I’ve been happy with her works and she’s had a regular pattern.”

Bellafina’s primary rival in a field of five is Chasing Yesterday, a half-sister to 2015 Horse of the Year and Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. She was supplemented to the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks for $8,000 on Wednesday.

The other three runners – Flor de La Mar, Slewsgoodtobetrue, and Stirred – may be vying for third and the status of a placing in a Grade 1 race.

KEY CONTENDERS

Bellafina, by Quality Road
Last 3 Beyers: 90-95-78

◗ Bellafina led throughout the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile on Feb. 9. She was in front by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining before winning by three-quarters of a length over Enaya Alrabb. Earlier this week, trainer Doug O’Neill said Enaya Alrabb is sidelined with an injury.

◗ Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bellafina won her first four graded stakes by margins ranging from 4 1/4 lengths in two stakes at Del Mar last summer to 8 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes here in January.

◗ A testing race in the Las Virgenes had its benefits in Callaghan’s mind.

“It shows she can win when she has to gut it out a little bit,” Callaghan said. “You’re not always going to win by six, seven, or eight lengths in graded stakes.

“She got pressed all the way around. I took more positive from the race than negative.”

◗ Bellafina drew the outside post in the Santa Anita Oaks, which should give jockey Flavien Prat the option of setting the pace or stalking a rival.

“Flavien has always said she might be better stalking,” Callaghan said.

Chasing Yesterday, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 68-82-78

◗ Chasing Yesterday is on a four-race winning streak, all in stakes, for Summer Wind Equine and trainer Bob Baffert. Last fall, she won the Grade 1 Starlet Stakes at Los Alamitos by a head over Enaya Alrabb.

◗ In the Sunland Park Oaks at 1 1/16 miles, Chasing Yesterday hopped in the air at the start and was in contention quickly while racing wide. She took the lead on the turn and won by 1 1/2 lengths.

◗ Initially, Baffert planned to wait for the Kentucky Oaks with Chasing Yesterday, but has opted for another race.

“The race at Sunland, we weren’t able to get a good read off of that,” Baffert said. “She reared up in the air at the break. She won because she was the best horse.

“I think she needed a tightener. That’s why I want to bring her right back instead of breezing and breezing. I’d like another run.”