Mitole, Bellafina work at Santa Anita for Breeders' Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Mitole, widely regarded as the leading contender for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Nov. 2, had his first major exercise at Santa Anita on Friday.

Mitole worked an easy half-mile in 50.60 seconds with minimal urging in the final furlong.

“That’s about as slow as you can go with him,” said Scott Blasi, assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen. “It was his first time over a new track.”

Mitole, a 4-year-old colt owned by William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, galloped out five furlongs in 1:04, Blasi said.

Mitole will have his next start in the BC Sprint at six furlongs. He won the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 24.

A few minutes earlier on Friday morning, the six-time stakes winner Bellafina worked a half-mile in 49.60. Trained by Simon Callaghan for Kaleem Shah, Bellafina is a candidate for the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at seven furlongs on Nov. 2.

“She looked smooth,” Callaghan said. “I would say we’re leaning toward that race. We haven’t made a decision yet.”

A 3-year-old, Bellafina would be racing against older fillies and mares for the first time in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint. Bellafina was fourth in the Grade 1 Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 21, leading to the turn before fading through the stretch of the 1 1/16-mile race.