Improbable gearing up for 3-year-old debut

ARCADIA, Calif. – Improbable, the undefeated winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Futurity on Dec. 8, worked five furlongs in 59 seconds on Friday at Santa Anita, moving closer to his 3-year-old debut.

Improbable has had five workouts since Jan. 9, showing a steady pattern of exercise in recent weeks. Trainer Bob Baffert said in a text message that he did not have a race selected for Improbable, who races for WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, and Starlight Racing.

Baffert has a deep team of 3-year-olds led by the undefeated champion Game Winner. Similar to past years, Baffert may utilize lucrative stakes at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita to keep his Triple Crown prospects apart in the coming months.

Improbable was the most prominent worker Friday, a welcomed dry morning this weekend in Southern California. Rain fell on Thursday and is expected on Saturday and Sunday.

Bellafina, a four-time stakes winner, worked a half-mile in 48.20 for the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old fillies on Feb. 9. Trained by Simon Callaghan, Bellafina won the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes at seven furlongs by 8 1/2 lengths on Jan. 6. Bellafina was fourth as the 9-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 2 at Churchill Downs.