Back on home soil, Bellafina cutting back in the Breeders' Cup
Bellafina has taken on the best of her generation this season in distances ranging from the seven-furlong Test Stakes (G1) to the 1 1/8 miles of the Kentucky Oaks.
Next, following her fourth-place effort in the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion Stakes (G1) last Saturday at Parx Racing, it will be back to one turn in the Breeders' Cup.
Trainer Simon Callaghan said Monday that Kaleem Shah's Bellafina was no worse for wear following the Cotillion, which marked a second-straight cross country trip following her third in last month's Test at Saratoga.
In the Cotillion, Bellafina broke slow and was rushed up along the inside to prompt the pace. She made the lead leaving the backstretch but was then overtaken as the field entered the final straight and wound up 9 1/4 lengths back of the winner, Street Band.
While Bellafina is a Grade 1 winner routing in the Santa Anita Oaks, Callaghan said it's become evident she is better around one turn. As a result, she'll likely be pointed to the 6 1/2-furlong Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park.
“She came out of the race fine and is doing well,” Callaghan said. “While I haven't fully discussed it with the owner, I would imagine we would go on to the Breeders' Cup [Filly & Mare] Sprint.”
By Quality Road out of the Malibu Moon mare Akron Moon, Bellafina broke her maiden in her second start in Del Mar's Sorrento Stakes (G2) and went on to win six of her first eight starts, all stakes. Each of those wins came at either Del Mar (Sorrento, Del Mar Debutante) or Santa Anita (Chandelier, Santa Ynez, Las Virgenes, Santa Anita Oaks.)
After three unsuccessful trips east, Callaghan hopes a return to familiar footing can make a difference for Bellafina in the Breeders' Cup.
“We'll see how she trains over the next couple of weeks," the trainer said, "but if things go well I would think we will go ahead and take a shot in the Breeders' Cup."
Going in the Filly & Mare Sprint would match Bellafina up against, among others, fellow 3-year-old Covfefe and older mare Come Dancing.